Otamiri River
Encyclopedia
The Otamiri River is one of the main rivers in Imo State
, Nigeria
. The river takes its name from Ota Miri, a deity who owns all the waters that are called by his name, and who is often the dominating god of Mbari
houses.
The river runs south from Egbu
past Owerri
and through Nekede
, Ihiagwa
, Eziobodo, Olokwu Umuisi, Mgbirichi and Umuagwo
to Ozuzu in Etche
, in the Rivers State
, from where it flows to the Atlantic Ocean.
The length of the river from its source to its confluence at Emeabiam with the Uramiriukwa River is 30km.
The Otamiri watershed covers about 10,000 km2 with annual rainfall 2250 - 2500 mm. The watershed is mostly covered by depleted rain forest vegetation, with mean temperatures of 27°C throughout the year. Conversion of the tropical rainforest to grassland with slash and burn practices is degrading soil quality.
The Otamiri is joined by the Nworie River at Nekede
in Owerri, a river about 9.2 km in length.
The Nworie river is subject to intensive human and industrial activities, and is used as a source of drinking water by the poor when the public water system fails. The Nworie is polluted by organic wastes but in 2008 was not above acceptable levels of chemical pollution.
Waste management in Owerri
is inefficient and contributes to pollution of the river.
Most of the wastes from Owerri are dumped at the Avu landfill in Owerri West on the Port Harcourt highway
, which creates a high concentration of phosphate and nitrate in the Otamiri.
South of Owerri the river flows through an alternating sequence of sands, sandstones and clay-shales.
Random sand samples from the bank of Otamiri River between Chokocho
and Umuanyaga, Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State showed that 86% of the sand particles are within the ideal range for glass making.
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The river takes its name from Ota Miri, a deity who owns all the waters that are called by his name, and who is often the dominating god of Mbari
Mbari
did you mean MBARI ?Mbari is a settlement in Kenya's Central Province....
houses.
The river runs south from Egbu
Egbu
Egbu is a village in southeastern Nigeria. Also, it is located near the city of Owerri. It lies on the Otamiri River.It has five villages namely Umuofor, Mpama, Umuayalu, Ofeuzo and Ishiuzo...
past Owerri
Owerri
Owerri is the capital of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of the Igboland. Owerri consists of three Local Govern Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of about 400,000 as of 2006...
and through Nekede
Nekede
Nekede is a town in southeastern Nigeria. It is located near the city of Owerri.This is an Igbo speaking town that is made up of three distinct villages, viz Umuoma, Umualum, and Umudibia . This town also hosts the Imo State new Owerri capital. The Federal University Technology Owerri is 20...
, Ihiagwa
Ihiagwa
Ihiagwa is a West African community located in the government area of Owerri West in Imo State, Nigeria. It is located 12 km south of the capital city of Owerri. The township is composed of eight villages: Umuelem, Umuchima, Mboke, Nnkaramochie, Iriamogu, Aku/Umuokwo, Ibuzo and Umuezeawula...
, Eziobodo, Olokwu Umuisi, Mgbirichi and Umuagwo
Umuagwo
Umuagwo is a town in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State in Nigeria. The population is mostly Christian and Igbo-speaking...
to Ozuzu in Etche
Etche
Etche is a Local Government Area in Rivers State, Nigeria, named after the Etche people of Southern Nigeria. The Etche are as Igbo tribe and speak their own dialect of the Igbo language...
, in the Rivers State
Rivers State
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...
, from where it flows to the Atlantic Ocean.
The length of the river from its source to its confluence at Emeabiam with the Uramiriukwa River is 30km.
The Otamiri watershed covers about 10,000 km2 with annual rainfall 2250 - 2500 mm. The watershed is mostly covered by depleted rain forest vegetation, with mean temperatures of 27°C throughout the year. Conversion of the tropical rainforest to grassland with slash and burn practices is degrading soil quality.
The Otamiri is joined by the Nworie River at Nekede
Nekede
Nekede is a town in southeastern Nigeria. It is located near the city of Owerri.This is an Igbo speaking town that is made up of three distinct villages, viz Umuoma, Umualum, and Umudibia . This town also hosts the Imo State new Owerri capital. The Federal University Technology Owerri is 20...
in Owerri, a river about 9.2 km in length.
The Nworie river is subject to intensive human and industrial activities, and is used as a source of drinking water by the poor when the public water system fails. The Nworie is polluted by organic wastes but in 2008 was not above acceptable levels of chemical pollution.
Waste management in Owerri
Owerri
Owerri is the capital of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of the Igboland. Owerri consists of three Local Govern Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of about 400,000 as of 2006...
is inefficient and contributes to pollution of the river.
Most of the wastes from Owerri are dumped at the Avu landfill in Owerri West on the Port Harcourt highway
A3 highway (Nigeria)
The A3 highway is a highway in Nigeria. It runs generally north from Port Harcourt through Aba, Umuahia, Okigwe, Enugu, Ngwo, Makurdi, Lafia, Jos, Bauchi and Potiskum thence east via Damaturu, Maiduguri to the border with Cameroon at Gambaru. The continuation through Cameroon connects to...
, which creates a high concentration of phosphate and nitrate in the Otamiri.
South of Owerri the river flows through an alternating sequence of sands, sandstones and clay-shales.
Random sand samples from the bank of Otamiri River between Chokocho
Chokocho
Chokocho is a community in Rivers State, Nigeria near the Otamiri River.The Chokocho bridge across the Otamiri, damaged during the Nigerian civil war, was rebuilt during the governorship of Peter Odili....
and Umuanyaga, Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State showed that 86% of the sand particles are within the ideal range for glass making.