Etche

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title: "Etche" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["local-government-areas-in-rivers-state", "indigenous-peoples-of-rivers-state"] topic_path: "general/local-government-areas-in-rivers-state" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etche" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_nameEtche
settlement_typeLocal Government Area
pushpin_mapNigeria
pushpin_mapsize200
pushpin_map_captionEtche shown within Nigeria
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameNigeria
subdivision_type1State
subdivision_name1Rivers State
subdivision_name2Etche
population_total16,347,829
leader_title1Local Government Chairman
leader_name1Obinna Anyanwu (PDP)
leader_title2Deputy Local Government Chairman
leader_name2Gladys Onyekachi Nweke (PDP)
leader_title3Local Government Council
leader_name3Ward 1: Daniel Amadi (PDP)
Ward 2: Cynthia Nwala (PDP)
Ward 3: Martins Onyekachi Anderson (PDP)
Ward 4: Faith N. Amadi (PDP)
Ward 5: Princewill Heshiulor Ahunanya (PDP)
Ward 6: Choko Chibuike (PDP)
Ward 7: Rosemary Ezeigbo (PDP)
Ward 8: Nwachukwu Promise (PDP)
Ward 9: Egbegbu Uzondu (PDP)
Ward 10: Nwabeke Chigozie (PDP)
Ward 11: Nwankwo Gift (PDP)
Ward 12: Ugochukwu Nwankwo (PDP)
Ward 13: Iheanyichukwu Kingsley (PDP)
Ward 14: Bestman Azuonwu (PDP)
Ward 15: Loveday Emmanuel (PDP)
Ward 16: Nkwocha Janet Nwaugo (PDP)
Ward 17: Chika Anokwuru (PDP)
Ward 18: ThankGod Egbule (PDP)
Ward 19: Amaechi Ihuoma (PDP)
timezoneWAT
utc_offset+1
coordinates
mapframeyes
mapframe-zoom8
mapframe-wikidatayes
mapframe-markervillage
image_skylineA river in my village at Etche Rivers State.jpg
image_captionA river in a village at Etche Rivers State
blank_name_sec1National language
blank_info_sec1Etche
::

| official_name = Etche | settlement_type = Local Government Area | pushpin_map = Nigeria | pushpin_mapsize = 200 | pushpin_map_caption = Etche shown within Nigeria | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Nigeria | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Rivers State | subdivision_name2 = Etche | population_total = 16,347,829 | leader_title1 = Local Government Chairman | leader_name1 = Obinna Anyanwu (PDP) | leader_title2 = Deputy Local Government Chairman | leader_name2 = Gladys Onyekachi Nweke (PDP) | leader_title3 = Local Government Council | leader_name3 = Ward 1: Daniel Amadi (PDP) Ward 2: Cynthia Nwala (PDP) Ward 3: Martins Onyekachi Anderson (PDP) Ward 4: Faith N. Amadi (PDP) Ward 5: Princewill Heshiulor Ahunanya (PDP) Ward 6: Choko Chibuike (PDP) Ward 7: Rosemary Ezeigbo (PDP) Ward 8: Nwachukwu Promise (PDP) Ward 9: Egbegbu Uzondu (PDP) Ward 10: Nwabeke Chigozie (PDP) Ward 11: Nwankwo Gift (PDP) Ward 12: Ugochukwu Nwankwo (PDP) Ward 13: Iheanyichukwu Kingsley (PDP) Ward 14: Bestman Azuonwu (PDP) Ward 15: Loveday Emmanuel (PDP) Ward 16: Nkwocha Janet Nwaugo (PDP) Ward 17: Chika Anokwuru (PDP) Ward 18: ThankGod Egbule (PDP) Ward 19: Amaechi Ihuoma (PDP) | timezone = WAT | utc_offset = +1 | coordinates = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 8 | mapframe-wikidata = yes | mapframe-marker = village | image_skyline = A river in my village at Etche Rivers State.jpg | image_caption = A river in a village at Etche Rivers State | blank_name_sec1 = National language | blank_info_sec1 = Etche The Etche Ethnicity are indigenous Rivers people found in the Naija Delta region of Nigeria. Presently, its people make up Etche and Omuma, two of the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. They are part of the 13 federal constituencies representing River State in Nigeria's National Assembly and part of the Rivers East Senatorial District. Its people are mostly farmers and Businessmen/Businesswomen, and they speak the Etche language.

Okehi is the LGA Council Headquarters and political capital of Etche, while Eberi is the LGA Council Headquarters and political capital of Omuma.

There are 19 political wards in Etche and 10 in Omuma local government areas. There are several communities and towns in Etche, some of which include: Akwu/Obuor, Eberi, Amaji, Opiro, Chokocho, Umuakuru, Igboh, Egwi, Afara, Mba, Igbodo, Ofeh, Ohimogho, Obiohia, Umuogba, Umuajuloke Okehi, Obibi, Ozuzu, Isu, Odufor, Nihi, Okomoko, Ulakwo Umuselem, Umuakonu, Umuanyagu, Okoroagu, Obite, Umuoye, Igboh, Umuechem, Egbeke, Ndashi, Akwa, Akwukabi, Elelem, Owu, Umuaturu, Ogida, Aloma, Odagwa, etc.

Economy

Umuechem in Etche is one of the oil producing communities in Nigeria since the beginning of exploration in the area in 1958. Today, Etche has over 250 producing oil wells and a host 3 of flow stations. It is also said to have the largest deposit of natural gas, south of the Niger river. The people of Etche are mostly engaged in agriculture, earning the nickname 'the food basket of the state'. Etche is one of the host communities of the government-owned multi-billion naira palm oil production company Risonpalm, as well as Delta Rubber Production Company. In recent times, real estate development has grown in the area with rapid expansion going on in Igboh-Agwuruasa, Ulakwo-Umuselem, and Okehi Clans.{{cite web |url=http://www.essentialaction.org/shell/era/field21.html |title=SHELL'S TOXIC WAR AGAINST UMUAKURU-IGBO PEOPLE |publisher=ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS ACTION (ERA) |author=Patrick Naagbanton |date=April 2, 1999 |access-date=2009-10-15}} Cassava, plantain, banana and yam are important crops. Agricultural plantation (notably Rubber, palm oil, pineapple, and plantain) was encouraged by the then Eastern Regional government of Nigeria, but this has since lost steam. Agriculture is mostly not mechanized and the use of tractors for farming these crops has dropped slightly in the 1986–2004 period.{{cite journal |title=Farm mechanization leading to more effective energy-utilizations for cassava and yam cultivations in Rivers State, Nigeria |author1=S.O. Nkakini |author2=M.J. Ayotamuno |author3=S.O.T. Ogaji |author4=S.D. Probert |date=6 June 2006 |doi=10.1016/j.apenergy.2006.03.001 |volume=83 |issue=12 |journal=Applied Energy |pages=1317–1325|hdl = 1826/1355|hdl-access=free }}

Shell Petroleum Development Company, the dominant oil operator in the area since the late 1950s, has only funded a largely ineffective and inefficient cassava processing mill at Umuebulu, and in 2000 it attempted albeit abysmally to provide training to local women in operation and management of the mill.{{cite web |url=http://www.wetlandsng.com/pro2.html |title=REFERENCE TO OUR EXPERIENCES |publisher=Wetlands Associates |access-date=2009-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718033814/http://www.wetlandsng.com/pro2.html |archive-date=2011-07-18 |url-status=dead Palm oil production by smallholders is a significant part of the economy.{{cite journal |title=Economics Of Small-Scale Palm Oil Processing In Ikwerre And Etche Local Government Areas Of Rivers State, Nigeria |journal=Journal of Agriculture and Social Research |volume=8 |issue=2 |author1=DI Ekine |author2=ME Onu |year=2008 |doi=10.4314/jasr.v8i2.43342 |doi-access=free

Political unrest

In October 1990, a demonstration was held in Umuechem, Etche to demand social amenities and compensation for oil pollution. State security agents reacted with tear gas and gunfire. 50 people died and about 550 houses were destroyed.{{cite journal |url=http://www.jsd-africa.com/Jsda/V9N2-Summer2007/ARC_TerrorTech.pdf |title=Terror Techniques in the Niger Delta and the Question of Justice |journal=The Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa |author=Adebola Babatunde Ekanola |volume=9 |issue=2 |year=2007 |issn=1520-5509 |access-date=2009-10-15}} The April 2003 national elections were marked by serious violence and intimidation in the Etche LGA, seriously compromising the free voters' process.{{cite web |url=http://www.idasa.org.za/gbOutputFiles.asp?WriteContent=Y&RID=526 |title=Report on Electoral Violence in the South South following the April 12th Senate and House of Representatives Elections |publisher=Idasa |access-date=2009-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203153109/http://www.idasa.org.za/gbOutputFiles.asp?WriteContent=Y&RID=526 |archive-date=2010-12-03 |url-status=dead In a 2007 report, Human Rights Watch said that "in recent years Etche has earned a degree of unwelcome notoriety due to allegations of corruption, thuggery, and murder leveled against politicians and public office holders from the area." The report stated that health and education facilities were in an advanced state of physical decay, with funds allocated for staffing and renovation being diverted for other purposes.{{cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/nigeria0107[1].pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121180249/https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/nigeria0107%5B1%5D.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 21, 2008 |title="Chop Fine" Impact of Local Government Corruption and Mismanagement on Primary Education and Primary Health Care in Rivers State |date=January 30, 2007 |publisher=Human Rights Watch |access-date=2009-10-15}} In January 2009, the Etche legislative council impeached three of their members for "irrational and unconscionable behaviour, gross misconduct, misappropriation of legislative funds and abuse of office."{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalnetworkonline.com/nnetwork/VOL6/N02/news.html#Etche_Legislators__Impeach_Three_Councilors-Amadi_Gilbert |title=Etche Legislators Impeach Three Councilors |date=January 25, 2009 |author=Amadi Gilbert |publisher=National Network |access-date=2009-10-15

A training camp for ex-militants was established in Okehi in Etche LGA, teaching skills such as welding and fabrication, fitting, seafaring/marine, business and commerce and so on. In October 2009, 200 of the students demanded their allowances, threatening to return to the creeks to cause havoc if unpaid.{{cite web |url=http://www.newswatchngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1410&Itemid=1 |title=Militants Threaten To Rock the Boat |author=Godfrey Azubike |date=14 October 2009 |publisher=NewsWatch |access-date=2009-10-15}}

Recent developments

In August 2009, a Marriage Registration Centre was opened in the LGA.{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalnetworkonline.com/nnetwork/VOL6/N032/news.html |title=Etche LGA Gets Marriage Registration Centre |author=Amadi Gilbert |publisher=National Network |date=August 23, 2009 |access-date=2009-10-15 In September 2009 the Niger Delta Development Commission opened a free medical mission in Omuma Local Government Council.{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200909090948.html |title=NDDC Takes Free Healthcare to LG |date=9 September 2009 |publisher=This Day |access-date=2009-10-15}}

References

References

  1. Gloria Chuku, Gloria. (2005). "Igbo Women and Economic Transformation in Southeastern Nigeria, 1900-1960". Psychology Press.
  2. Augustine Senan Ogunyeremuba Okwu. (2010). "Igbo Culture and the Christian Missions, 1857-1957: Conversion in Theory Practice". [[Rowman & Littlefield]].
  3. "Igbo People and Irish People: A Trans-Atlantic Partnership By George C E Enyoazu At the 10th Anniversary of Ezinwanne, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland". African Democrat.
  4. Nigeria, Media. (2018-04-24). "Etche L.G.A Polling Units/Wards".
  5. (2020-05-05). "Etche Culture: A brief walk into the history and economy of one of Nigeria's lovely people".
  6. admin. (2017-02-25). "Niger Delta: Osinbajo and the Unresolved Etche Question".
  7. admin. (2017-02-25). "Niger Delta: Osinbajo and the Unresolved Etche Question".
  8. "Youths in Etche LG of Rivers plan peaceful protest over bad state of roads".
  9. "A brief walk into the history and economy of Etche culture".

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