Diobu, Port Harcourt

Diobu is a densely populated neighborhood of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, located within the Port Harcourt metropolis.

Diobu
Neighborhood of Port Harcourt
Coordinates: 4°47′24″N 6°59′36″E
Country Nigeria
StateRivers State
LGACity of Port Harcourt
CityPort Harcourt
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)
ZIP codes
500262, 500263, 500264

Neighborhood

Diobu is significant as the childhood residence of the former Rivers State governor Chibuike Amaechi.[1] Other notable individuals who had been raised in Diobu are singer Duncan Mighty, the Mayor of Port Harcourt Hon. Victor Ihunwo and former Reps' deputy speaker Austin Opara.[2] The neighborhood is also known for its huge concentration of soccer talents and has produced a number of locally and internationally known players including Finidi George, Joseph Yobo and Taribo West.[3] On March 29, 2012, Diobu hosted the 25th Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria zonal screening for Port Harcourt.[4]

Although the neighborhood ranks among most commercially vibrant places in the city, about a third of its residents live below the poverty level.[2] According to most sources, Diobu has high rates of gang activities, kidnappings and armed robberies. In many cases, police response times are unfavorably slow, and usually receive public criticism. Security in the area never actually improved until late 2007, and just for crime eradication, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi signed legislation implementing mandatory sentencing policies.[2]

Geography

Location

Diobu consists of three main extensions, namely: Mile 1, Mile 2 and Mile 3. It is bordered by New GRA to the north, D-line to the northeast, Rivers State University to the northwest, Old GRA to the east, Kidney Island to the southeast, and Eagle Island to the southwest. The coordinates of Diobu are: 4°47'24"N, 6°59'36"E (Latitude:4.772152; Longitude:6.994514).[5]

Economy

Most of the commercial activities existing in Diobu are brought about by its numerous marketplaces. The area is home to Mile One and Mile 3 markets, the largest open-air markets of Port Harcourt, where everything from clothes, household goods to foodstuffs are sold.[6] While there are no official statistics yet, it has been estimated that Diobu's timber markets possess "over 5000 businesses" with an employment record of "over one million workers including traders, carpenters, wood dressers and labourers, among others.[2] Major online and print media companies such as The Tide, National Network and The Neighbourhood newspapers have long moved into the area and have head offices stationed at Mile 1.[7][8]

Education

Schools
  • St. Andrew Primary School, Mile 1
  • St. Thoma's Anglican Secondary School, Mile 2
  • St. Paul's Anglican School
  • Beryl Nursery and Primary Education Center, Mile 3
  • Philips Academy, 66 Nanka, Mile 1
  • Port Harcourt Science School, 32 Ikwerre Road, Mile 1
  • Trinity College of Business Studies[1]
  • War Against Indiscipline Living Stone Foundation School[1]


Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Diobu:

References
  1. "Amaechi Returns To Diobu….Treks Along The Streets". Rotimiamechi.net. Archived from the original on 2014-05-29. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  2. Nwisi, Rosemary (2013-11-22). "Diobu timber market… A den of robbers, kidnappers". The Nation (Nigeria). Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  3. "Fred Igwe Alerts Players of Diobu Of Amaechi Cup". thenewswriterng.com. 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  4. "MBGN screening begins March 27". Net Newspapers. 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  5. "Diobu extension, mile 1,2,3 (Port Harcourt)". Wikimapia. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  6. "Port Harcourt Shopping". World66.com. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  7. "National Network Newspapers- Contact Information". Nationalnetworkonline.com. Network Printing and Publishing Company. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  8. "Contact Us". theneighbourhoodonline.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
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