Port Harcourt (local government area)

Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA) is a Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State in Southern Nigeria. It is one of the 23 local government areas created for the state. Its administrative seat is located in Port Harcourt. Although the LGA consists of two different ethnic groups, the Ikwerre and Obulom (Abuloma)^{[1][2][citation needed]}. The Abuloma people of Rivers State speak 'Obulom- Ochichi' language.^[3][1]

Port Harcourt
LGA
Port Harcourt Show map of Nigeria Port Harcourt Show map of Africa
Coordinates: 4°46′40″N 7°1′20″E
Country	Nigeria
State	Rivers State
Seat	Port Harcourt
Government
• Local Government Chairman	Sam B. Kalagbor (Administrator)
Area
• Total	109 km2 (42 sq mi)
Population  (2011)Dez Mayorz Media Population Statistics
• Total	924,360
• Density	5,856.5/km2 (15,168/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
Website	https://phlg.com.ng

Geography

Port Harcourt local government area is included in the Greater Port Harcourt region. It is situated 52 kilometres (32 mi) southeast of Ahoada and about 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Bori. It is bounded to the south by Okrika, to the east by Eleme, to the north by Obio-Akpor and to the west by Degema. It has a total size of 109 square kilometres (42 sq mi).^[4][5]

Towns, urban communities and neighbourhoods

• Azuabie Town
• Abuloma
• Agip
• Amadi Ama
• Borokiri
• Bundu Ama
• D-line
• Diobu
• Eagle Island
• Elekahia
• Fimie Ama
• Koko Ama
• Marine Base
• New GRA
• Nkpogu
• Nkpolu Oroworukwo
• Ogbunabali
• Old GRA
• Old Port Harcourt Township
• Oroabali
• Oroada
• Orochiri
• Orogbum
• Orolozu
• Oromeruezimgbu
• Oroworukwo
• Oromineke
• Ozuboko Ama
• Rebisi
• Rumukalagbor
• Rumuobiekwe
• Rumuwoji
• Tere-Ama
• Okuru-Ama

Demographics

The total population in the area was last recorded at 638,360 people in 2011 from 538,558 in 2006.^[4]

The 2023 population of Cities in Nigeria, according to The World Population Review,^[6] Port Harcourt is ranked 4th on the list with a population of 1,865,000.

Government

The local government area is part of the Rivers East Senatorial district consisting of 20 electoral wards. The mayor, who is the highest-ranking official in the Port Harcourt local government is elected by popular vote and presides as both head of wards and head of the local government council.^[7]

The current mayor of Port Harcourt is Hon. Ichemati Ezebunwo ^[8]

Wards

• Abuloma-Amadi Ama

(20)

• Diobu (ward)
• Elekahia (ward)
• Mgbundukwu (1)
• Mgbundukwu (2)
• Nkpolu Oroworukwo (ward)
• Nkpolu Oroworukwo (2)
• Ochiri-Rumukalagbor
• Ogbunabali (ward)
• Oroabali (ward)
• Orogbum (ward)
• Oromineke-Ezimgbu
• Oroworukwo (ward)
• Port Harcourt Township
• Port Harcourt Township VI
• Port Harcourt VII
• Rumuobiekwe (ward)
• Rumuwoji (1)
• Rumuwoji (2)
• Rumuwoji (3)

List of mayors of Port Harcourt

The following list shows the mayors of Port Harcourt:

• Richard Okwosha Nzimiro (the first mayor of Port Harcourt.^[9]
• Ezeonyekaibeya Orji Ogbu
• Richard Okwosha Nzimiro^[7]
• Ambrose Ezeolisa Allagoa
• Francis Umelo Ihekwaba
• David Nembe Ayaugbokor
• Nnamdi Wokekoro
• Azubuike Nmerukini
• Chimbiko Akarolo
• Charles Paul Ejekwu
• Soni Sam Ejekwu (caretaker chairman)
• Orukwem Amadi Opara-eli (caretaker chairman)
• Aleruchi Williams (caretaker chairman)
• K.O Amadi (caretaker chairman)
• Charles Orlu (caretaker chairman)
• Allwell Wami (caretaker chairman)
• Emenike Wami (caretaker chairman)
• Philip Elemuwa Orlu
• Lawrence Ezebunwo Igwe
• Victor Ihunwo Nyeche^[10]
• Allwell Ihunda

Education

Tertiary

Rivers State University currently has its main campus at Nkpolu Oroworukwo, although plans are in progress to relocate the institution to a new 524-acre (212 ha) site within the Greater Port Harcourt urban centre.^[11]

Primary and secondary

Many private schools including some government schools are located in and around this area. Primary education in many cases starts at the age of 4 for majority of Riverians. Students spend five or six years in primary school and graduate with a school leaving certificate. At the secondary level, students spend six years, that is 3 years of JSS (Junior Secondary School), and 3 years of SSS (Senior Secondary School).

The following are primary (elementary) and secondary schools (high schools) operating within the Port Harcourt local government area:

• Staff School Abuloma
• Baptist High School, Borokiri
• First Baptist Academy 93 Agreey Road, Port Harcourt ^[12]
• Bereton Montessori Nursery and Primary School, Old GRA
• Emarid College
• Faith Baptist College, Old GRA
• Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri
• Graceland International School, Elekahia
• Greenoak International School, New GRA
• Holy Rosary College, Old GRA
• Halle College
• Methodist Girls High School
• Federal Government Girls College, Abuloma
• Norwegian International School
• Our Lady of Fatima College, Borokiri
• St. Mary's Catholic Model High School
• Starlets Academy, Old GRA
• Stella Maris College
• Stepping Stone Educational Centre
• Tantua International Group of Schools
• Doic Early Learning Centre, Elekahia
• Randolph Group of Schools, Diobu PHC

Notable people

• Adokiye Amiesimaka, soccer player
• Emmanuel C. Aguma, lawyer, Attorney General of Rivers State
• Worgu Boms, lawyer
• Ibinabo Fiberesima, actor, film producer
• Agbani Darego, model and fashion designer
• Finidi George, soccer player
• Chinyere Igwe, political figure
• Austin Opara, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria
• Joseph Yobo, soccer player
• Ernest Afiesimama, Nigeria's First TV Weatherman and Meteorologist
• Nimi Briggs, Academic, 5th vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt
• Tonto Dikeh Actress
• Ada George former Governor
• Asari dokubo
• Monalisa Chinda actor, film producer
• Ricky Owubokiri, soccer player
• Thankgod Amaefule, Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a striker

See also

• Local government areas of Rivers State
• List of cities and towns in Rivers State
• List of people from Port Harcourt