Aguata

Aguata
LGA and town
Aguata

Location in Nigeria

Coordinates: 6°01′0″N 7°05′0″E / 6.01667°N 7.08333°ECoordinates: 6°01′0″N 7°05′0″E / 6.01667°N 7.08333°E
Country  Nigeria
State Anambra State
Population (2006)
 • Total 370,172
Time zone WAT (UTC+1)

Aguata is a Local Government Area in Anambra state in Nigeria with its headquarters in Aguata (location of the headquarters office buildings) major part of which falls into the city of Ekwulobia while the other part falls within Aguluezechukwu. There has been an age-long contention on this issue between the indigenes of Aguluezechukwu and Ekwulobia with both towns claiming the status of the headquarters on account of ownership claim to the 'Aguata land'. This state of affairs made the Government of Anambra State to officially declare that the headquarters of Aguata Local Government Area should be Aguata (the neuter name of the location in which the headquarters of Aguata Local Government Area Offices are sited) in a bid to settle the conflict. Slogan: The Orient Colossus.

Natives

Aguata Local Government Area is home to some of Nigeria's distinguished statesmen and academicians, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Air Vice Marshal C. Umenwaliri (Former Minister for Communication FRN), Dr. Andy Uba, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife (Elder statesman and former Governor), His Lordship Rt. Rev. Onuigwe C. Dominic, (Elder Statesman and former Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Anambra State)Rt Rev Emphraim Ikeakor, Bishop of Amichi Diocese. Also from this great local govt are Chief Titus Anigbogu (Ugwumba Aguata), Chief Dr. Emmanuel Dimike (Osuofia Aguluezechukwu, Osuofia 1 of Aguata, Osuofia Ndi Igbo) and other great movers and shakers in all walks of life. Aguata used to be host of the great Federal Polytechnic Oko, until recently when Orumba South and Orumba North were carved out of the Local Government Area.

Major Cities

Ekwulobia, the largest city in Aguata, is expanding rapidly to a population of about five-hundred thousand people. It is the major commercial town in the area. Most Nigerian Commercial banks maintain their branches there. It also boasts of a stadium, a Federal Prison( part of which falls into Ezinifite) and a major market, Eke Market. Several new agro- based factories established around Ekwulobia city have also attracted workers into the city. Ekwulobia is also a major transit hub from where travellers can connect to other far flung cities in Nigeria. There are public transport vehicles that go from Ekwulobia, on daily basis, to Onitsha, Awka, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Abakaliki etc.

Ekwulobia is indeed a Beehive of activities especially during the festive period, it always attracts thousands of visitors from all walks of live during this periods. The famous and legendly 'Achukwu' masquerade which the entire nine villages that made up Ekwulobia has, is a beauty to behold.

In the area of hospitality business, a good number of Ekwulobia Indigenes have invested heavily in that aspect thereby setting up between one to three star hotels in the town like Orton Palace Hotel and others. And these and many other features have made Ekwulobia a must visit for many visitors as well as other neighbouring towns in the area.

Ekwulobia Development Union is the mother union of all branches of Ekwulobia People's meetings both home and abroad even in the diaspora, with Lagos branch which is headed by Nze Lawrence Ezenwa(Ogbuehi Chinaza Oku) being the strongest of all the unions.


The famous 'Awuka' masquerade of Aguluezechukwu and 'Nkpokiti Ije Enu Dance' were noted for their unique dancing steps and won accolades in the then Anambra State.

Other towns in Aguata L.G.A

Other towns in Aguata L.G.A Anambra State are: Akpo, Achina, Uga, Igbo-Ukwu, Isuofia, Umuchu, Aguluezechukwu, Ezinifite, Ikenga, Amesi, Oraeri, Umuona, Nkpologwu.

Aguluezechukwu, according to history originated from Uga. The name Aguluezechukwu is a combination of 'Agulu and Ezechukwu'. History has it, that the Ezechukwu clan in Uga were primarily hunters who came to hunt Elephants and other animals in the vast land of Aguluezechukwu. In the course of their hunting expeditions, they decided to create a temporary settlement which later became permanent till date.

Schools

Here is the list of secondary schools in Aguata Local Government Area:

Ecological problems

The major ecological problem is soil erosion and landslide menace which has swallowed up many homes and hundreds of cultivatable arable farmlands. As a result numerous farmlands especially in Aguluezechukwu, Akpo and Ekwulobia have been lost. This has caused a lot of hardship for the people in this area. Until recently, the connecting road from Ekwulobia to Orumba north and Orumba south was cut off by erosion,thereby causing untold loss and difficulties to the people living in these areas, and slowing down economic growth.

Apart from the economic loss, this problem has also resulted in the disappearance of certain rare species of animals, plants and trees. Mostly affected are migratory birds that nest and breed in this area during different seasons. Even animals like monkeys which used be a common sight in some of these areas have all but disappeared with disappearance of vast forest areas. The entire ecological balance of this area is being continually threatened by this disaster that continues to affect the lives of people, animals and plants, negatively. Isuofia

References