Etche

Etche local government area is in Rivers state, Southsouth geopolitical zone of Nigeria and has its headquarters in the town of Okehi. Several towns and villages are in Etche local government area and they include Ikwerengwo, Okomoko, Umuebulu, Egbeke, Igbodo, Okehi, Afara, and Chokota. The estimated population of Etche LGA is 149,513 inhabitants with the most populous tribe being the Etche ethnic group. The Etche dialect is widely spoken in the area while Christianity is the most practiced religion in the LGA. Popular festivals held in Etche LGA include the Onye-Ishi Etche wrestling festival and the New Yam festival while the notable landmarks in the area include the Delta Rubber factory in Okomoko.

GEOGRAPHY OF ETCHE

Etche LGA witnesses two major seasons which are the dry and the rainy seasons. The average humidity of the area is 88 percent while the total annual rainfall in the LGA is 3600 mm. Etche LGA consists of several rivers and tributaries and has an average wind speed of 13 km/h.

ECONOMY OF ETCHE

Etche LGA is rich in crude oil and was the second place where crude oil was found in commercial quantities in Nigeria after Oloibiri. Fishing is also a very important economic activity in Etche LGA with the area’s rivers and tributaries being rich in seafood. Also, a number of crops such as plantain, banana, cassava and oil palm are grown in Etche LGA with a cassava processing plant being present in the town of Umuebulu. Several markets are found in Etche LGA and these include the Eketa Market.