All 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State
Complete list of every LGA in Imo State — headquarters, land area, population, notable communities, and key economic facts.
Complete List of LGAs in Imo State
| # | LGA Name | Headquarters | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aboh Mbaise | Aboh | — |
| 2 | Ahiazu Mbaise | Afor Oru | — |
| 3 | Ehime Mbano | Ehime | — |
| 4 | Ezinihitte Mbaise | Itu | — |
| 5 | Ideato North | Urualla | — |
| 6 | Ideato South | Dikenafai | — |
| 7 | Ihitte/Uboma | Isinweke | — |
| 8 | Ikeduru | Iho | — |
| 9 | Isiala Mbano | Umuelemai | — |
| 10 | Isu | Umundugba | — |
| 11 | Mbaitoli | Nwaorieubi | — |
| 12 | Ngor-Okpala | Umuneke | — |
| 13 | Njaba | Nnenasa | — |
| 14 | Nkwerre | Nkwerre | — |
| 15 | Nwangele | Amaigbo | — |
| 16 | Obowo | Otoko | — |
| 17 | Oguta | Oguta | — |
| 18 | Ohaji/Egbema | Mmahu-Egbema | — |
| 19 | Okigwe | Okigwe | — |
| 20 | Onuimo | Okwe | — |
| 21 | Orlu | Orlu | — |
| 22 | Orsu | Awo-Idemili | — |
| 23 | Oru East | Omuma | — |
| 24 | Oru West | Mgbidi | — |
| 25 | Owerri Municipal | Owerri | — |
| 26 | Owerri North | Orie Uratta | — |
| 27 | Owerri West | Umuguma | — |
27 LGAs total.
Detailed Profile of Each LGA in Imo State
Each Local Government Area in Imo State has a distinct character, history, and economic function. Below is a comprehensive profile of all 27 LGAs.
Mbaise-area LGA known for agriculture, palm production, community institutions and strong Igbo cultural traditions.
Full profile of Aboh Mbaise LGA →Agricultural LGA in the Mbaise area with communities engaged in farming, commerce and small-scale enterprise.
Full profile of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA →Historic LGA in northern Imo with strong agricultural activity and numerous traditional communities.
Full profile of Ehime Mbano LGA →LGA in the Mbaise cultural area with a strong agricultural economy and community-based traditional institutions.
Full profile of Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA →Northern Imo LGA containing numerous historic Igbo communities and strong agricultural and commercial activity.
Full profile of Ideato North LGA →Southern Ideato LGA with agricultural communities and important traditional institutions.
Full profile of Ideato South LGA →Agricultural LGA in southern Imo with communities involved in farming, trade and local enterprise.
Full profile of Ihitte/Uboma LGA →LGA near Owerri with dense settlement, agriculture, commerce and strong Igbo community institutions.
Full profile of Ikeduru LGA →Northern Imo LGA with extensive agricultural communities and historic traditional institutions.
Full profile of Isiala Mbano LGA →LGA in northern Imo known for farming, commerce and historic Igbo communities.
Full profile of Isu LGA →LGA close to Owerri with agriculture, residential expansion, commerce and numerous autonomous communities.
Full profile of Mbaitoli LGA →Large LGA west of Owerri containing extensive agricultural land, oil-related activity and several important communities.
Full profile of Ngor-Okpala LGA →Agricultural LGA associated with oil palm, food crops and the Njaba River system.
Full profile of Njaba LGA →Historic northern Imo LGA known for commerce, craftsmanship, agriculture and strong traditional institutions.
Full profile of Nkwerre LGA →Northern Imo LGA containing Amaigbo and other historic communities. Agriculture and commerce are important local activities.
Full profile of Nwangele LGA →Southern Imo LGA with agricultural communities and a distinctive local cultural heritage.
Full profile of Obowo LGA →LGA centred around Oguta Lake. Fishing, agriculture, commerce and tourism are important activities.
Full profile of Oguta LGA →Oil-producing and agriculturally important LGA containing petroleum facilities, palm plantations, wetlands and forest areas.
Full profile of Ohaji/Egbema LGA →Major urban LGA and historic centre located in northern Imo. Important for commerce, transportation, education and administration.
Full profile of Okigwe LGA →Northern Imo LGA with agricultural communities and commercial links to Okigwe and neighbouring areas.
Full profile of Onuimo LGA →Major urban and commercial LGA in northern Imo and one of the most important cities outside Owerri.
Full profile of Orlu LGA →LGA in the Orlu zone with agricultural communities, traditional institutions and growing commercial activity.
Full profile of Orsu LGA →LGA in the northern part of Imo. Omuma is also the ancestral home of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Full profile of Oru East LGA →Agricultural and commercial LGA with Mgbidi as headquarters and strong connections to the wider Orlu area.
Full profile of Oru West LGA →Central urban LGA containing the core of Owerri, the state capital, with government offices, markets, businesses, schools and major services.
Full profile of Owerri Municipal LGA →LGA surrounding northern parts of Owerri with residential expansion, commerce, agriculture and institutional development.
Full profile of Owerri North LGA →LGA west of Owerri containing major educational and industrial institutions including FUTO and Federal Polytechnic Nekede.
Full profile of Owerri West LGA →About Local Government Areas in Imo State
Local Government Areas (LGAs) are the third tier of government in Nigeria, below the federal and state governments. Imo State has 27 LGAs.
What Is an LGA Chairman?
Each LGA in Imo State is headed by an elected Local Government Chairman.
History of LGA Creation in Nigeria
Nigeria's current 774 LGAs were created through a series of administrative reforms. For the full story, see the guide to History of State Creation in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions — Imo State LGAs
How many local government areas does Imo State have?
Imo State has 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
What are the 27 local governments of Imo State?
The 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State are: Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ehime Mbano, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ideato North, Ideato South, Ihitte/Uboma, Ikeduru, Isiala Mbano, Isu, Mbaitoli, Ngor-Okpala, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Obowo, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Okigwe, Onuimo, Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Owerri Municipal, Owerri North, Owerri West.
What is the biggest local government in Imo State?
Imo State has 27 LGAs of varying sizes.
What is the smallest local government in Imo State?
Area data is available for each LGA in the table on this page.
Which local government area in Imo State is the richest?
Economic value varies by LGA based on natural resources, commerce, and infrastructure. The LGA containing the state capital — Owerri — typically has the highest concentration of economic activity and government institutions.
What is an LGA in Nigeria?
LGA stands for Local Government Area. It is the third tier of government in Nigeria, below the federal government and state governments. Nigeria has 774 LGAs in total across its 36 states and the FCT. Each LGA is headed by an elected chairman and councillors. LGAs receive federal allocations monthly from the Federation Account and are responsible for primary education, basic healthcare, community development, and local roads.