Njaba River

Njaba River towns including Oguta, Mgbidi, Osemotor and Awo-Omamma were once important centres of trade. After the abolition of the slave trade in 1830, there was an oil palm tree in the river basin^[5] as a source of cash.^[6] Oil mill factories were established in many communities including Umuezukwe oil mill located near the waterfront in Awo-omamma. By 1903 exports in the oil trade increased due to new waterways developed to move the products to the coast.^[6]

Fishermen, fish landing sites and fishing cooperatives exist in many Imo State communities; some are found in villages of Awo-Omamma, Oguta, Abiaziem, Nnebukwu, and Nkwesi in the Njaba River basin, including the Udoka Fish Farmers Group, Umuezukwe, Awo-omamma and Kalabari Beach Fishermen Coop. Society, Oguta.^{[7] : 10} Their landing sites include Umuezukwe (Ughamiri),^[7]: 8 Umudei, K-beach, Osse Abiaziem and Osemotor^[7]: 9 located in Awo-Omamma and Oguta villages. These farmers experience economic constraints that militate against efficient operation of their fish and crop farming activities.^[7]: 7

Intervention is needed to solve many of these infrastructure and environmental issues in the villages of Awo-Omamma, Izombe, Oguta, the greater oil-rich river basin and many other farming communities in Imo State.^[7]: 7 Assistance is needed in development of motorable access roads to these fishing villages and ports such as Umuezukwe, Ubahaeze, Abiaziem, Izombe et al. as well as in support of modern fish and crop processing activities through electricity generation and agricultural subsidies^[7]: 7 On Monday, January 28, 2013, angry youths protested the State Government’s insensitivity to plight of their people whose roads linking Awo-omamma to Okwudor and other neighbouring communities, they alleged had been abandoned for years by successive administrations in the state.^[8]

Like many other areas of the Niger Delta, the continuous flaring of gases at flow stations constitutes a threat to ambient air in the area.^[9]

It is projected that upon completion, Izombe Gas Processing Plant would be a major inland gas processing hub for most stranded gas within Njaba River axis.^[2]