Otamiri River

Otamiri River
Otamiri River and tributaries

The Otamiri River is one of the main river systems in Imo State, Nigeria.[1] The river runs south from its source (Ishi Mmiri) at Egbu, past Owerri urban centre, and through the Owerri West and Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Areas at Nekede, Ihiagwa, Eziobodo, Olokwu Umuisi, Mgbirichi, and Umuagwo, before terminating at Ozuzu in Etche, Rivers State, from which it flows into the broader inter-state Imo River system.

Name and Cultural Significance

The river takes its name from Ota Miri, an Igbo deity deemed to own all the waters that are called by his name and who is often a dominating spirit of Mbari houses.[2]

Geography

The Otamiri watershed covers about 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 mi2), with annual rainfall of 2,250 to 2,500 millimetres (89 to 98 in). The watershed is mostly covered by depleted rain forest vegetation, with mean temperatures of 27 °C (81 °F) throughout the year. The length of the river from its source at Egbu to its confluence at Emeabiam, with major upstream tributary Oramiriukwa River, is 30 kilometres (19 mi). The Otamiri is then joined further downstream by its other major tributary about 9.2 kilometres (5.7 mi) long, Nworie River, at Nekede in Owerri.[3]

Geology

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 in Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State, showed that 86 percent of the sand particles are within the ideal range for glass making.[4] Thus, indigenes partake in sandmining and dredging of the Otamiri for local construction material and livelihood.

Pollution

Waste management in Owerri faces significant challenges, enabling pollution of the Otamiri river basin. Most of the officially and unofficially collected municipal waste from Owerri is dumped at unlined open landfill sites like the Nekede-Ihiagwa and Avu dumpsites in Owerri West, which discharge high concentrations of toxic chemical surface water runoff and contaminated sub-surface groundwater leachate directly into the Otamiri.[5][6][7][8][9] Sandmining and dredging cause significant environmental degradation to the watershed structure by accelerating riverbank erosion, sinkhole formation, and soil destruction.[10][11] The Nworie river is also subject to intensive human and industrial activities, despite not measuring in excess of acceptable levels of chemical pollution in 2008.[12]

Imo State Water & Sewerage Corporation (ISWSC) has suggested that Otamiri River — as a source of potable water to Owerri, and including tributary Nworie River, which is also used as a potable source by poor indigenes when the public water system fails — may suffer permanent damage if urgent care is not taken to remediate it and stop continued pollution and degradation. The World Bank began a project aiming to ensure safe water for Imo citizens by January 2020.[13][14]


Pictures of Otamiri River at Egbu

References

  1. ↑ Amangabara, G. (January 2015). "Drainage Morphology of Imo Basin in the Anambra – Imo River Basin Area, of Imo State, Southern Nigeria". Journal of Geography Environment and Earth Science International. 3 (1). Federal University of Technology, Owerri: 1–11. doi:10.9734/JGEESI/2015/17114.
  2. ↑ Alusi
  3. ↑ Amangabara, G. (January 2015). "Drainage Morphology of Imo Basin in the Anambra – Imo River Basin Area, of Imo State, Southern Nigeria". Journal of Geography Environment and Earth Science International. 3 (1). Federal University of Technology, Owerri: 1–11. doi:10.9734/JGEESI/2015/17114.
  4. ↑ Adejumo, Taiye Elisha; Esau, F. I. (18 November 2017). Assessment of Quality of Sand from Rivers Imo and Otamiri, Imo State for Construction Purposes. Proceedings of 2nd International Engineering conference (!EC 2017). Minna, Nigeria: Federal University of Technology, Minna.
  5. ↑ Onukwugha, E.; Ibearugbulem, O.H.; Uboh, J.R. (December 2019). "WASH Implications of Unprotected Landfill On Groundwater Quality: A Case Study Of Umuerim, Nekede, Imo State, Nigeria". Water and Society. 239. Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri: 205–210. doi:10.2495/WS190181.
  6. ↑ Nelson-Kalu, C.T.; Amangabara, G.T.; Owuama, C.O.; Nzeh, C.N.; Uyo, C.N. (March 2021). "Characteristics Of Leachate At Ihiagwa Dumpsite, Imo State Nigeria And Their Implications For Surface Water Pollution". International Journal of Advanced Academic Research. 7 (3). Federal University of Technology, Owerri: 119–129. doi:10.46654/ij.24889849.e7223.
  7. ↑ Amadi, A.N.; Olasehinde, P.I.; Okosun, E.A.; Okoye, N.O.; Okunlola, I.A.; Alkali, Y.B.; Dan-Hassan, M.A. (2012). "A Comparative Study on the Impact of Avu and Ihie Dumpsites on Soil Quality in Southeastern Nigeria". American Journal of Chemistry. 2 (1). Federal University of Technology, Minna: 17–23. doi:10.5923/j.chemistry.20120201.05.
  8. ↑ Johnbosco, E.U.; Nnaji, A.O. (October 2011). "Influence of Landuse Patterns on Otamiri River, Owerri and Urban Quality of Life". Pakistan Journal of Nutrition. 10 (11). Federal University of Technology, Owerri: 1053–1057. doi:10.3923/pjn.2011.1053.1057.
  9. ↑ Okere, J.K.; Abu, Gideon; Azorji, J.N.; Nwachukwu, M.O.; Igwe, C.E.; Peter, N.O.; Excel, D.K.; Ukamaka, E. (2023). "Evaluating Heavy Metal Risks of Otamiri and Nworie River in Imo State, South-Eastern Nigeria". Asian Journal of Applied Sciences. 16 (2): 72–83. doi:10.3923/ajaps.2023.72.83.
  10. ↑ Okeke, P.N.; Anyanwu, J.C.; Edenta, V.I. (January 2019). "Impact of Sand Mining on Water Quality and Bank Morphology of Ontamiri River in Owerri, Nigeria". International Journal of Advanced Research in Science Engineering and Technology. 6 (1): 7737–7744.
  11. ↑ Ntesat, B.; Ugbebor, J. (June 2019). "Environmental Impact of Sand Dredging in Otamiri River, Chokocho-Etche Axis, Rivers State, Nigeria". Uniport Journal of Engineering and Scientific Research. 3 (1): 43–47.
  12. ↑ Ogbomida, Emmanuel T.; Emeribe, Chukwudi N. (25 June 2013). "Impact of urbanization on Nwaorie and Otamiri Rivers in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria". Advances in Environmental Research. 2 (2). National Centre For Energy and Environment, Benin City, Nigeria: 119–129. doi:10.12989/aer.2013.2.2.119.
  13. ↑ Imo State Water & Sewerage Corporation
  14. ↑ "Imo decries pollution of Otamiri river by residents". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Front view of Otamiri River. - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 11 July 2023.

4°54′14″N 7°08′30″E / 4.903889°N 7.141667°E / 4.903889; 7.141667

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