Ebonyi State is located in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north and northeast by Benue State, Enugu State to the west, Cross River State to the east and southeast, and Abia State to the southwest.
Named for the Abonyi (Aboine) River—a large part of which is in the state’s south—Ebonyi State was formed from parts of Abia and Enugu state in 1996 and has its capital as Abakaliki. It is undoubtedly one of the smallest states by land area in Nigeria with an impressive number of nearly 2.9 million people as of 2016.
In this article, I will share with you the richest Local Government in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. So, if this seems like what you are interested to learn more about, do well to read to the end of this article to discover more information. That said, let’s get right into business, shall we?
What is a Local Government?
A local government is the lowest tier of public administration within a particular sovereign state. It’s a form of government whose remit covers an area less than that of the national land and, in some cases, less than that of a state.
Ebonyi state has about thirteen (13) local governments in Ebonyi State. They include:
- Abakaliki
- Izzi
- Ezza North
- Afikpo South
- Ohaukwu
- Ebonyi
- Oniocha
- Ishielu
- Ezza South
- Ikwo (the largest local government in Ebonyi State)
- Afikpo North
- Ohaozara
- Ivo
Which among do you think are the richest?
Before you decide, It’s good to know that there are many parameters to consider in order to ascertain the credible result of the richest local governments.
What are the Parameters?
The State and local government generates revenues from three primary sources, this includes:
- Income
- Property taxes &
- Sales
However, property taxes are the largest source of revenue for local governments.
Local governments also generate revenue from other sources like licenses and permits, Special levies, Grants from the federal and state government in Nigeria, Statutory allocation, Share from Value Added Tax (VAT), Court fines, etc. In this post we consider all the parameters in order to bring to you an accurate list of the richest local governments in Ebonyi State.
Now let’s proceed!
1. Abakaliki Local Government
Abakaliki Local Government, which is also the state capital city, is the richest Local Government in Ebonyi State. It is located 68 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Enugu State. In 1967 before the creation of the Southeastern State, it was the headquarters of the Ogoja province.
- Image Source – YouTube/Tolu Nazzal
Abakaliki Local Government was created on 1 October 1996, during Nigeria’s independence. The name Abakaliki is derived from a community in Izzi land (Nkaleke), which means ‘Aba Nkaleke’. If you are looking for the best place for commercial activities in Ebonyi State, Abakaliki is definitely the place you should never miss out.
The Local Government has an estimated population of about 1,179,280 as of 2021. It’s known as the center of agricultural trade due to massive agricultural products found in the place, these include yams, rice, cassava, palm oil, etc. Abakiliki houses a lot of companies and businesses that boost the state’s GDP.
Ebonyi State University’s main campus is also located in the city.
2. Ikwo Local Government
Ikwo LGA is second on our list of the richest local governments in Ebonyi State. It is also known to be the largest local government situated on the eastern part of Ebonyi State. It has an impressive land mass of approximately 500 kilometers and shares a border with Abakaliki and Ezza Local Government Areas
The headquarters is at Onu-Ebonyi Echara. Just like Abakaliki, a lot of companies/ businesses are running in the Ikwo local government (LGA). It’s also the home to Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu, Ebonyi State College of Education Ikwo, and other notable institutions.
3. Afikpo Local Government
Afikpo LGA can not be left out in our list of top 5 richest local governments in Ebonyi State. This Local Government, which is also the center of ancient Igbo tradition has an estimated population of 881,611 recorded as of 2021.
The backbone of the Afikpo local government economy is Agriculture. They grow bananas, cassava, oil palm, yam, maize, plantain, vegetables, and fruits. The local government is also home to Mater Misericordiae Hospital School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana.
4. Ezza South or Onueke Local Government
The central unification town for the Ezza nation as well as the headquarters of Ebonyi Central senatorial zone, Ezza South, also merits the list of the top 5 richest local governments in Ebonyi State.
This LGA was created on 1st, October 1996 along with other local governments in Ebonyi State during the military administration of General Sani Abacha. The main source of income for Ezza South is agriculture. They grow rice, yams, cassava, and cocoyams, among others.
5. Ohaukwu Local Government
The last on this list is Ohaukwu Local Government. This local government is located in Ezzamgba town. It’s no doubt one of the richest in Ebonyi State due to its notable deposits of mineral resources and agricultural products.
It is blessed with large salt deposits and there are several mining activities in the area. Also, the primary agricultural products are yams, rice, cassava, maize, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many LGA does Ebonyi have?
There are thirteen (13) local governments in Ebonyi State. They include;
- Abakaliki
- Afikpo North
- Afikpo South (Edda)
- Ebonyi
- Ezza North
- Ezza South
- Ikwo
- Ishielu
- Ivo
- Izzi
- Ohaozara
- Ohaukwu
- Onicha
What is the full meaning of Ebonyi?
The full meaning of Ebonyi in native language means deep black wood.
What is Ebonyi State known for?
Ebonyi State is known for its agricultural production. It’s among the top producers of several natural products in Nigeria. These include yams, rice, potatoes, maize, beans, oil palm, and cassava.
Wrap Up
There you have it! These are the richest Local Governments in Ebonyi State, and everything you have to know about the state. Check this page for more recent updates as we will keep updating for further changes. Have any questions? Please, drop them in the comment box below. Thanks for your time and bye for now until next time!
