THE DESCRIPTION OF AFIKPO

History of Afikpo 

Afikpo Local Government Area is located in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The area was originally part of the old Abakaliki Local Government Area before it was carved out as a separate local government in 1996 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.

The people of Afikpo have a rich cultural heritage and are known for their traditional dance, music, and festivals. They are predominantly farmers, with yam, cassava, rice, and maize being their main crops. The area is also known for its rich mineral resources, including lead, zinc, and limestone.

Over the years, Afikpo has seen significant development in areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. 

Geography of Afikpo 

Afikpo Local Government Area is located in the southeastern part of Nigeria and is one of the 13 local government areas that make up Ebonyi State. It is situated between latitude 5° 40′ and 6° 15′ North and longitude 7° 45′ and 8° 15′ East.

The area is predominantly hilly, with an average elevation of about 225 meters above sea level. It is bordered by Ohaozara Local Government Area to the north, Ivo Local Government Area to the west, and Cross River State to the east and south. The area covers a total land area of approximately 448.2 square kilometers.

Afikpo Local Government Area has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons - the rainy season which lasts from April to October and the dry season which lasts from November to March.

Economy of Afikpo 

The economy of Afikpo Local Government Area is predominantly agrarian, with farming being the mainstay of the local economy. The area is known for its fertile soil and conducive climate, which makes it suitable for the cultivation of a wide range of crops. The major crops grown in the area include yam, cassava, rice, maize, and vegetables. These crops are not only consumed locally but also sold in neighboring towns and cities, providing a source of income for the farmers.

Description of Ebonyi State 

Located in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, Ebonyi State (Igbo: ra Ebonyi) shares borders with Benue State to the north and northeast, Enugu State to the west, Cross River State to the east and southeast, and Abia State to the southwest. Abakaliki serves as the capital of Ebonyi State, which was created in 1996 from portions of Abia and Enugustate and is named for the Abonyi (Aboine) River, which flows through the state's southern region. 

Ebonyi, one of Nigeria's 36 states, ranks 33rd in size and 29th in population, with an estimated 2.9 million people living there as of 2016. the Cross-Niger transition woods in the extreme south and the drier Guinean forest-savanna mosaic in the north and east. Important rivers include the Cross River and its tributary, the River Aloma, which run along Ebonyi's southeastern and eastern borders, respectively. The Abonyi (Aboine), Asu, and Eze Aku rivers are all tributaries of the Cross River and flow through the interior of the state. 

After independence in 1960, the territory that is now Ebonyi was a part of the post-independence Eastern Region until 1967, when the region was partitioned and the area became part of the East Central State. There was an attempt at secession from Nigeria less than two months later, with Ebonyi included in the Biafran state that fought for independence from Nigeria for three years. As a result of the war's conclusion and Nigeria's subsequent reunification, the East Central State was rebuilt until 1976, when its northern half split off to form Anambra State and its southern half split off to establish Imo State. Fifteen years later, the eastern portions of Anambra and Imo states became Enugu State and Abia State, respectively. In 1996, the eastern part of Enugu State and the northern part of Abia were separated and merged to establish the new state of Ebonyi. 

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy in Ebonyi State, and the state's farmers rely mostly on yams, rice, oil palm, and cassava. Lead, zinc, and limestone deposits in Abakaliki and locally woven baskets of all sizes in Ntezi make mining and quarrying important secondary economic activities. The state of Ebonyi is home to a large number of higher education establishments and ranks in the top twenty of the country on the Human Development Index. 

Geography 

During the 1996 federal military government of General Sani Abacha, it was one of the six new states formed. Ebonyi State was formed by separating the Abakaliki division of Enugu State and the Afikpo division of Abia State to form its own entity. The Abakaliki division includes the senatorial zones of Ebonyi North and Ebonyi Central, while the Afikpo, Ohaozara, Onicha, and Ivo division is responsible for the Ebonyi South senatorial zone. There are thirteen LGAs in Ebonyi, each with its own set of elected officials and local development centers established by the state government. Several prestigious universities can be found in the state, including Ebonyi State University (EBSU) in Abakaliki, Alex Ekwueme Federal University (Ndufu Alike Ikwo), Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic (Unwana), Federal College of Agriculture (Ishiagu), Federal College of Education (Technical) (Isu), Ebonyi State College of Education (Ikwo), College of Health Sciences (Ezzamgb Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State established the King David University of Medical Science in Uburu, Ohaozara LGA in 2021, along with the Ezza University of Aeronautical Engineering and the Izzi University of Technology. 

Economy

A large portion of the state's population relies on the agricultural economy for their livelihood. Yam, cassava, plantain, banana, maize, and cocoyam are among the crops that are grown. Cocoa, rubber, and palm fruit are a few more. It ranks among the world's top producers of such staples as rice, yams, potatoes, maize, beans, and cassava. Yams and Rice grow mostly in EDDA and are hence a major economic driver for the region. Additionally, Ebonyi is rich in various different types of solid mineral deposits, though intensive industrial mining operations. However, the state has provided a number of incentives to financiers of the agribusiness industry. The large salt deposits in Ebonyi have earned it the nickname "the salt of the nation."accumulate in the Okposi and Uburu Salt Lakes.

Salt is one of the state's mineral resources; it is extracted from the Uburu/Okposi salt lakes.associated with the Ohaozara. The state is home to several manufacturing facilities that make things like plastic, block and the preparation of food.

Natural Resources

The people of Ebonyi work the land for a living. Nigeria's rice, yam, potatoes, maize, beans, and cassava all come from this region, making it a major player in the country's agricultural basket market. Ikwo is known for its rice production, while Izzi is known for its yams. Other areas of the state, including as Amasiri, Edda, and Ezillo, also make significant contributions. Effium and Ezzamgo are known for their cassava output, while Ntezi is known for its baskets. However, there aren't many industrial-sized mines for extracting Ebonyi's lead, crude oil, and natural gas. However, in order to boost production, the state government has offered incentives to investors in the agro-allied sector, but this capacity is still mostly unused. Ebonyi is known as "the salt of the nation" because to the large salt deposits found in the region's Okposi and Uburu Salt Lakes. The state is also home to a number of popular tourist destinations, such as the Abakaliki Green Lake, the Uburu Salt Lake, and the Unwana and Ikwo Beaches.