Rivers State
Rivers State | |
|---|---|
| Nicknames: | |
 Location of Rivers State in Nigeria | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| Date created | 27 May 1967 |
| Capital | Port Harcourt |
| Government | |
| • Governor[1] | Chibuike Amaechi (PDP) |
| • Senators |
|
| • Representatives | List |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11,077 km2 (4,277 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 26 of 36 |
| Population | |
| • Estimate (2005) | 6,689,087 |
| GDP (PPP) | |
| • Year | 2007 |
| • Total | $21.07 billion[2] |
| • Per capita | $3,965[2] |
| Time zone | UTC+01 (WAT) |
| ISO 3166 code | NG-RI |
| Website | riversstate.gov.ng |
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states. Rivers state is home to three main ethnic groups: Igbo, Ijaw, and Ogoni.[3]
The inland part of Rivers state consists of tropical rainforest; towards the coast the typical Niger Delta environment features many mangrove swamps.
Rivers state, named after the many rivers that border its territory, was part of the Oil Rivers Protectorate from 1885 till 1893, when it became part of the Niger Coast Protectorate. In 1900 the region was merged with the chartered territories of the Royal Niger Company to form the colony of Southern Nigeria.
The state was formed in 1967 with the split of the Eastern Region of Nigeria. Until 1996 the state contained the area which is now in the Bayelsa State.
Administrative divisions
Rivers State is divided into twenty-three Local Government Areas (LGAs):
| LGA Name | Area (km2) | Census 2006 population |
Administrative capital | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Harcourt | 109 | 541,115 | Port Harcourt | 500 | |
| Obio-Akpor | 260 | 464,789 | Rumuodumaya | 500 | |
| Okrika | 222 | 222,026 | Okrika | 500 | |
| Ogu/Bolo | 89 | 74,683 | Ogu | 500 | |
| Eleme | 138 | 190,884 | Eleme | 501 | |
| Tai | 159 | 117,797 | Sakpenwa | 501 | |
| Gokana | 126 | 228,828 | Kpor | 501 | |
| Khana | 560 | 294,217 | Bori | 502 | |
| Oyigbo | 248 | 122,687 | Afam | 502 | |
| Opobo/Nkoro | 130 | 151,511 | Opobo Town | 503 | |
| Andoni | 233 | 211,009 | Ngo | 503 | |
| Bonny | 642 | 215,358 | Bonny | 503 | |
| Degema | 1,011 | 249,773 | Degema | 504 | |
| Asari-Toru | 113 | 220,100 | Buguma | 504 | |
| Akuku-Toru | 1,443 | 156,006 | Abonnema | 504 | |
| Abua/Odual | 704 | 282,988 | Abua | 510 | |
| Ahoada West | 403 | 249,425 | Akinima | 510 | |
| Ahoada East | 341 | 166,747 | Ahoada | 510 | |
| Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni | 969 | 284,010 | Omuku | 510 | |
| Emuoha | 831 | 201,901 | Emuoha | 511 | |
| Ikwerre | 655 | 189,726 | Isiokpo | 511 | |
| Etche | 805 | 249,454 | Okehi | 512 | |
| Omuma | 170 | 100,366 | Eberi | 512 |
Economy
Rivers State has one of the largest economies in Nigeria, mainly because of its crude oil. The State has two major refineries, two major seaports, airports, and various industrial estates spread across the state, particularly in the State capital.
Education
In 1999 the state had 2,805 Government primary schools and 243 secondary schools. The secondary schools are concentrated mainly in LGA headquarter towns and in Port Harcourt. Tertiary institutions include the University of Port Harcourt,Choba, Port Harcourt established by the Federal Government in 1975, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology,founded in 1980 by the State government, the School of Health Technology, Port Harcourt, established by the State government, the federally-owned polytechnic at Omoku and the state-owned Rivers State Polytechnic at Bori, the Rivers State University of Education (Ignatius Ajulu University)at Rumuolumeni, Nkpolu Oroworukwo and Ndele and the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Rumueme, Port Harcourt.[4] The Rivers State College of Arts and Science in Port Harcourt gained polytechnic status in 2006.[5]
2012 tanker fire deaths
On 12 July 2012, at least 92 people were killed following the crash of a petrol tanker on the main east-west road in Okogbe. Many of the victims had been attempting to scoop up spilled petrol, when the tanker caught fire.[6]
See also
References
- ^ See List of Nigerian state governors for a list of prior governors
- ^ a b "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ^ "Rivers State government website". Retrieved December 7, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dateformat=(help) - ^ "SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE". OnlineNigeria. 2/10/2003. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Rivers State College of Arts and Science". Rivers State College of Arts and Science. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
- ^ "Niger Delta Petrol Tanker Crash Kills 92". The Guardian. London. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
