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🏠 Local Government Areas • South East

Imo State
Local Government Areas

Imo State has 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs), each with its own council, headquarters and elected officials. The state capital is Owerri.

27 Total LGAs
4 Senatorial Districts
4,152,000 Population (2006 Census)
StateImo
CapitalOwerri
ZoneSouth East
LGAs27
Districts4
27 of 27 LGAs
Imo Central 8 LGAs
Imo LGA
Aboh Mbaise
HQ: Aboh Mbaise
Pop: 201,000 (2006)
Known for the Mbaise people, palm oil and cassava. Major agricultural LGA in central Imo State.
Imo LGA
Ahiazu Mbaise
HQ: Ahiazu
Pop: 178,000 (2006)
Known for the Ahiazu Mbaise communities and palm oil production. Agricultural LGA in central Imo.
Imo LGA
Ezinihitte
HQ: Ezinihitte
Pop: 121,000 (2006)
Known for palm oil, cassava and the Ezinihitte clan cultural heritage.
Imo LGA
Ikeduru
HQ: Ikeduru
Pop: 188,000 (2006)
Known for palm oil and cassava farming. Peri-urban LGA adjacent to Owerri with growing commercial activities.
Imo LGA
Mbaitoli
HQ: Nwaorieubi
Pop: 198,000 (2006)
Peri-urban LGA around Owerri, known for growing residential estates and commercial activities.
Imo LGA
Owerri Municipal
HQ: Owerri
Pop: 183,000 (2006)
Heart of Owerri, the Imo State capital. Home to Government House, major banks and commercial activity.
Imo LGA
Owerri North
HQ: Owerri
Pop: 197,000 (2006)
Northern Owerri suburbs with growing residential estates and commercial activities.
Imo LGA
Owerri West
HQ: Owerri
Pop: 205,000 (2006)
Western suburbs of Owerri. Home to Sam Mbakwe Airport and growing residential zones.
Imo East 7 LGAs
Imo LGA
Ngor Okpala
HQ: Ngor Okpala
Pop: 195,000 (2006)
Known for palm oil, cassava and the Ngor Okpala people. Agricultural LGA in eastern Imo.
Imo LGA
Njaba
HQ: Nkume
Pop: 89,000 (2006)
Small LGA along the Njaba River, known for fishing, palm oil and the Nkume communities.
Imo LGA
Nkwerre
HQ: Nkwerre
Pop: 108,000 (2006)
Known for the Nkwerre people and palm oil. Gateway LGA between Imo and Rivers States.
Imo LGA
Nwangele
HQ: Onicha
Pop: 100,000 (2006)
Known for palm oil, cassava and the Nwangele communities in eastern Imo State.
Imo LGA
Obowo
HQ: Obowo
Pop: 172,000 (2006)
Known for palm oil and cassava farming. The Obowo people have strong business networks.
Imo LGA
Orlu
HQ: Orlu
Pop: 261,000 (2006)
Major commercial city in Imo. Known for the Orlu people, palm oil and key business between Imo and Anambra.
Imo LGA
Orsu
HQ: Awo-Omamma
Pop: 135,000 (2006)
Known for Awo-Omamma and palm oil production. Growing commercial LGA with strong diaspora investment.
Imo North 8 LGAs
Imo LGA
Ehime Mbano
HQ: Ehime
Pop: 142,000 (2006)
Known for yam and palm oil farming. Agricultural LGA in northern Imo bordering Anambra State.
Imo LGA
Ideato North
HQ: Urualla
Pop: 126,000 (2006)
Known for yam farming and commercial activities in Urualla. Growing town between Imo and Anambra.
Imo LGA
Ideato South
HQ: Dikenafai
Pop: 109,000 (2006)
Agricultural LGA known for yam, cassava and palm oil. The Ideato South people have strong cultural ties.
Imo LGA
Ihitte/Uboma
HQ: Isinweke
Pop: 110,000 (2006)
Known for the Ihitte-Uboma people and palm oil farming in northern Imo.
Imo LGA
Isiala Mbano
HQ: Umunoha
Pop: 188,000 (2006)
Known for the Isiala Mbano people and palm oil production. Important LGA in northern Imo.
Imo LGA
Isu
HQ: Isu
Pop: 101,000 (2006)
Small LGA known for palm oil and cassava farming by the Isu people.
Imo LGA
Okigwe
HQ: Okigwe
Pop: 158,000 (2006)
Known for Okigwe area Command and commercial activities. Important transportation hub in northern Imo.
Imo LGA
Onuimo
HQ: Okwe
Pop: 87,000 (2006)
Small LGA known for palm oil and cassava. The Onuimo people have growing diaspora business networks.
Imo West 4 LGAs
Imo LGA
Oguta
HQ: Oguta
Pop: 139,000 (2006)
Known for the beautiful Oguta Lake, a major tourism site. Oil production and fishing are key activities.
Imo LGA
Ohaji/Egbema
HQ: Mmahu
Pop: 186,000 (2006)
Oil-rich LGA in western Imo, known for Shell operations, Imo River fishing and palm oil production.
Imo LGA
Oru East
HQ: Omoku
Pop: 153,000 (2006)
Known for oil production and the Omoku gas field. Rivers and Imo border LGA.
Imo LGA
Oru West
HQ: Mgbidi
Pop: 122,000 (2006)
Known for palm oil, cassava and the Mgbidi communities. Agricultural LGA in western Imo.
Imo Central 8 LGAs
Imo East 7 LGAs
Imo North 8 LGAs
Imo West 4 LGAs
Frequently Asked Questions — Imo State LGAs

Imo State has 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Each LGA has its own elected council, a chairman, and a headquarters town. They are responsible for grassroots governance, primary education, primary healthcare, and rural infrastructure.

Imo State is divided into 4 senatorial districts. Each district is represented by a senator in the Nigerian National Assembly and comprises several LGAs. The districts in Imo State are: Imo Central, Imo East, Imo North, Imo West.

Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria are the third tier of government. Their constitutional responsibilities include:

  • Primary and adult education
  • Primary healthcare and maternal services
  • Local roads and drains
  • Markets, motor parks and public conveniences
  • Refuse disposal and environmental sanitation
  • Naming of streets and numbering of houses
  • Collection of local taxes and rates
LGAs receive monthly allocations from the Federation Account (FAAC) and generate internally through rates and fees.

Each LGA is headed by an elected Local Government Chairman, who serves as the chief executive of the council. The legislative arm is the Legislative Council, made up of elected councillors representing each ward. The council appoints supervisory councillors (equivalent to commissioners) to head departments like education, health and works.

The headquarters of a Local Government Area is the principal town or city where the council secretariat (local government secretariat) is located. It is where the chairman's office, legislative hall, and most council departments are based. The headquarters is usually the largest or most central town in the LGA.