The Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Cllr. Celia Osakwe-Hibbert, on Sunday morning went on a boat ride in Oguta Lake in the state, describing the experience as fantastic.
According to her, the ride “is one of those delicious adventures Imo State has on Offer.”
The State Special Adviser encouraged all Diasporans who are visiting home this Yuletide season to check out the lake, saying the safety measures during the ride is fantastic.
The lake is situated in Oguta, the headquarters of the Oguta Local Government Area, about 48.27 kilometres from the junction of the Ndoni and Orashi River.
Oguta is one of the four crude oil producing Local Governments in Imo State.
Oguta, which is made up of 27 villages, was said to be one of the first territories used by the British to advance into the Igbo hinterland.
As of 2012 Oguta’s population was estimated at 20,096.
Oguta Lake, the largest natural lake in Imo State, South Eastern Nigeria, is a fine piece of water, formed by the damming of the lower Njaba River and a part of the River Niger floodplain in the region south of Onitsha.
It is the place where two “angry”
waters don’t mix. The stream from Njaba River is the major inflow to Oguta Lake. The other 3 tributaries are Awbana, Utu and Orashi.
The lake is important to the people of oil-rich Njaba River basin including Oguta, Orsu, Mgbidi, Nkwesi, Osemotor, nnebukwu,mgbele,Awa Awo-Omamma Akabo as a source of water, fish, tourism and an outlet for sewerage.
The river route Njaba and Orashi via Oguta Lake to the coast, passing through Awo-omamma, Mgbidi, Oguta, Ndoni, Abonnema, Degema made Oguta, Osemotor, Awo-omamma and surrounding towns important commercial centres of international trade mainly for oil palm.
Oguta Lake also served as a Biafran army marine base during the Nigerian Civil War.
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