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Aba River (Nigeria)

Coordinates: 4°49′22″N 7°29′27″E / 4.8228°N 7.4909°E / 4.8228; 7.4909
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Aba River
River Aba
Aba River (Nigeria) is located in Nigeria
Aba River (Nigeria)
Mouth
Location
CountryNigeria
Physical characteristics
Mouth 
 • coordinates
4°49′22″N 7°29′27″E / 4.8228°N 7.4909°E / 4.8228; 7.4909
Basin features
River systemImo River

The Aba River is a river in southern Nigeria. A tributary of Imo river that runs through the city of Aba, Nigeria.[1] Its headwater is in Okpu-Umuobo area (Isiala-Okpu and Mgboko-Umuette autonomous communities) Osisioma Ngwa LGA in the Ngwa heartland. This Aba River is also known as Waterside.[2]

The river is largely ignored despite its uniqueness and importance. Activities of local sand dredges who source sharp sand for construction purposes has been keeping the river flowing.[3]

Pollution

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The Aba River have over the years faced different level of pollution from Multinationals, Cattle farmers, and residents in neighboring communities. Residents, many of whom had previously used the river's resources, asserted that the river was teeming with aquatic life and provided drinking water and other domestic uses for the people of the communities along its banks before the emergence of various businesses that no longer discharge their wastes into the water body in the 1970s.[2]

Even worse, the river's pollution was increased by the "Ahiaudele" (market of vultures) abattoir and cattle market, which is situated along the river's banks. The river's resources are getting scarcer.[2]

Two localities that are home to the Nigerian Breweries PLC, Aba Plant, filed a lawsuit against the business in the Abia State High Court over what they claim is an ongoing environmental abuse matter. The locals claimed that Nigerian Breweries had continued to release waste, hazardous chemicals, and effluent water into the Aba River, popularly known as "Iyi Aza Ogbor" or "Waterside".[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Map of Aba, Southeast Nigeria showing the sampling stations of Aba River".
  2. ^ a b c "SPECIAL REPORT: Govt looks away as companies spew waste into Aba River endangering lives". www.premiumtimesng.com. Apr 24, 2021. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  3. ^ Izugbara, C. O.; Umoh, J. O. (2004). "Indigenous Waste Management Practices among the Ngwa of Southeastern Nigeria: Some lessons and policy implications". The Environmentalist . 24 (2): 87–92. doi :10.1007/s10669-004-4799-4
  4. ^ "Aba communities drag Nigerian Breweries to court over alleged pollution, demand N8b". EmpressiveNaija. 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2023-10-02.