Eastern Region, Nigeria

Last updated
Eastern Region
Autonomous region of Nigeria
1954–1967
Biafra in its region.svg
Capital Enugu
Demonym Easterner
Area 
• 1965
76,145.65 km2 (29,400.00 sq mi)
Population 
• 1965
12,000,000
Government Eastern Nigerian Government
 • Type Parliamentary constitutional monarchy (1954–1963)
Parliamentary republic (1963–1966)
Military dictatorship (1966–1967)
Governor  
• 1954–1956
Clement John Pleass
• 1956–1960
Robert Stapledon
• 1960–1966
Francis Akanu Ibiam
• 1966–1967
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu
Premier  
• 1951–1953
Eyo Ita
• 1954–1959
Nnamdi Azikiwe
• 1959–1966
Michael Okpara
Legislature Eastern Regional Assembly
• Upper house
 House of Chiefs
• Lower house
 House of Assembly
Historical era Decolonisation of Africa
1884
1 October 1954
•  Elections
15 March 1957
1 October 1960
•  Elections
16 November 1961
1 October 1963
15 January 1966
28 July 1966
May–October 1966
5 January 1967
•  Independence (as Biafra)
27 May 1967
15 January 1970
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Flag of Nigeria (1914-1952).svg Colonial Nigeria
Biafra Flag of Biafra.svg
Today part of Nigeria

The Eastern Region was an administrative region in Nigeria, dating back originally from the division of the colony Southern Nigeria in 1954. Its first capital was Calabar. The capital was later moved to Enugu and the second capital was Umuahia. The region was officially divided in 1967 into three new states, the East-Central State, Rivers State and South-Eastern State. East-Central State had its capital at Enugu, which is now part of Enugu State. [1]

Contents

The region had the third-, fourth- and fifth-largest indigenous ethnic groups including Igbo, Ibibio and Ijaw. It was what later became Biafra, which was in rebellion from 1967 to 1970. [2]

Geography

The Eastern region of Nigeria was geographically located in Southeastern Nigeria. [3] It is bordered by the Niger river in the West and has an administrative and cultural border with the Northern region of Nigeria to the north. The eastern boundary lies between the border of Nigeria and Cameroon and the southern coast is along the Gulf of Guinea. The total surface area of the region was approximately 76,000 square kilometres (29,400 sq mi). [3] In 1965, the region had a population of twelve million people and some areas such as Owerri and those inhabited by the Annangs were one of the most densely populated places in West Africa. [4] The Awka region also suffered from soil erosion.

The region had three types of vegetation. The coastal area in the south is dominated by mangrove swamps and tidal waterways. Further north of the swamps is the tropical rainforest, however, over a period of time, many of the leafy trees of the forest were cleared for planting palm trees. [3] In the northernmost parts of the region is the guinea savannah. Major rivers of the region include rivers of Niger Delta system such as Qua Iboe, Cross River, Orashi River and Imo River. Obudu Plateau in the northeastern area, the Oban and Ikom Hills along the eastern boundary with Cameroon were a few of the highlands in the region. [5]

History

Colonial rule

In 1849, John Beecroft, the governor of Fernando Po became the British consul agent for the Bights of Benin and Biafra. [6] Beecroft was chosen to be in charge of regulating the trade at the ports of old and New Calabar and those at Benin, Bonny, Bimbia and the Cameroons between the residents and British merchant firms. The increase in trade within the ports led to the drive of several European firms to build trading post at Onitsha. In 1879, most of the firms merged to form the United African Company and were given a charter to manage a coastal protectorate in 1885. In 1884, the headquarters of the British agent for the Bights of Benin and Biafra was moved from Fernando Po to Calabar and in 1890, the Oil Rivers Protectorate, later known as the Niger Coast Protectorate was established. The Southern Nigeria Protectorate was formed in 1932 and by 1914 British colonial rule had established most of the administrative divisions in the Southern Nigeria Protectorate. In 1939, the Southern Province was divided into the Western and Eastern Province. [7] During the war period, the provinces were given more power due to shortage of personnel. [8]

Historically, residents of Eastern Nigeria had an individualistic and democratic culture. [9] To establish indirect rule within the administrative divisions, the British began a tendency to strengthen the powers of the traditional village heads beyond their traditional pre-colonial duties. [10]

Along with the British traders, Christian missionaries also established mission bases in the region. In 1846, Reverend Hope Masterton Waddell formed a branch of the Church of Scotland Mission. Ajayi Crowther of CMS established a Niger division at Onitsha, and soon followed by the Catholic Church. These missions found some converts among the residents including Rev James Boyle of Bonny, a priest at St. James Cathedral. [11]

Culture

Prior to World War II, there were five major cities in Eastern Nigeria, Port Harcourt and Enugu created after World War I, Calabar, Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Onitsha and Aba. Majority of the people lived in small communities and towns. The rise in trade contributed to the migration of men to towns and cities to find work and to trade but during Christmas and other festival periods, they usually come home. The men also built their family houses in their native villages. [12]

Traditional authority in many villages is earned by the most senior man of the family next in line to the throne or a wealthy man who has paid footing to other title holders. Among the Efiks and Ibibio's, masked secret societies played an important social and regulatory role. The masked societies kept debtors in check and played important part in local festivals. [13] In many areas in the region, the use of native courts to settle debts and bride price were important social institutions. [14]

Dancing and sports were also important social elements in the Eastern region. [15] Football was played between April and November. Sports was regulated by the regional branch of the Nigeria Football Association and those of the athletics association. Emmanuel Ifeajuna, was a gold member in High Jump at the Empire Games in Vancouver in 1954. [16]

Demographics

The Eastern region had an ethnically diverse population. The largest ethnic group in the region were the Igbos. [17] The traditional society of the Igbos was democratic and individualistic with titles, wealth and age being the primary determinants of prestige. During colonial rule, the Igbos spread to other regions of British West Africa, first working as traders and laborers and then establishing small scale businesses in Lagos and other urban districts. [18] The Ibibios and Efiks lived in the districts of Uyo, Opobo, Calabar, Enyong, Eket, Creek Town, Duke Town, Old Town and Ikot Ekpene. During pre-colonial and colonial rule, the Efiks controlled trading post up the Cross River to the Ports of Calabar. The other ethnic groups of the Niger Delta system include the Ijaw speaking people of Opobo, Bonny, Degema, Okrika, Buguma, Brass and Abonnema. [19] The Ijaws had a marked chieftaincy tradition. Other groups within the region were the Annang of Ikot Ekpene, Yakurr, Bahumono, Oron, Ogoni and Ekoi. [20]

Economy

Trade in palm produce was a dominant feature in the economy of Eastern Nigeria. Though not indigenous to the region, the palm tree provided fronds for roofing of houses in the villages, palm wine for drinking and palm kernels as source of foreign exchange income. [21] After World War II, prices sought for palm produce skyrocked and by 1954, Palm produce generated an income of 54 million pounds. However, the prices stabilized by the middle of the 1950s. [21] Employment in farming and agriculture was a significant source of income for many residents engaged in yam farming and fishery. In the 1960s, the government promoted rubber, cocoa and palm grove schemes to increase the output of cash crops. The government also established farm settlements at Ohaji, Igbariam, Boki, Ulonna, Erei, Uzo-Uwani and Egbema to encourage agriculture. [22]

Trading of goods was also a major part of the regional economy. In 1954, imports to the region was about 25 million pounds a year which were brought into the country by a few European firms but distributed by thousands of traders within the region. [23] The trade in imported goods such as dried fish, motor parts, textiles goes on along with the trade in local foodstuff. [24]

In industry, the coal mines of Enugu managed by the Nigerian Coal Corporation and Nigersteel's rolling mill which used steel scraps to produce mild steel bars were one of the few coal mines and steel plants in operation in West Africa in 1963. [25] During the NCNC led government, a cement factory was established at Nkalagu, Nigerian Breweries chose a stout factory at Aba, a Tobacco and glass making plant was located at Port Harcourt. Oil mining in the region started by Shell D' Archy in 1937 did not yield commercial quantities until 1957. But by 1965, oil was a promising source of income. [26]

Statutory corporations

The task of managing the trade and income earned in palm oil kernels was given to the Eastern Nigeria Marketing Board and the Eastern Nigeria Finance Corporation. The Eastern Nigeria Marketing Board came into effect in 1954 and was given the responsibility to manage the region's cash or export crops. The board assigned grade to palm produce according to free fatty acid content and then assigns producer prices to each grade. [27] The board conducts the purchase of palm oil and kernels that are to be exported through the use of licensed buying agents and engages in the evacuation of the produce to the ports for export. Most of the profits from the sales of export produce is transferred to the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation. The development corporation was involved in producing quality palm oil kernels for the export markets through erection of pioneer oil mills and the development of other export crops such as cocoa, cashew nuts, rubber and coconut. [27] Rice cultivation was also encouraged in Abakaliki and Ogoja. [28]

Transportation

Community development was one of the initiatives of the NCNC led Eastern regional government in the 1950s and the phrase was also popular among community residents of villages and towns. Part of the initiative of the community development ministry was the clearing of land for passable laterite and earth roads. In 1955 about 13,000 km (8,000 mi) of roads were cleared but less than 10% were tarred. [29] Most travelers use lorries with expressive mottoes such as 'God's time is best' or 'No sweat, No sweat' [29] to move between cities. In the southern parts of region where tidal waterways and swamps dominate the vegetation, barges and river craft are used for transportation.

The Nigerian railway line in the region runs through Enugu, Umuahia, Aba and Port Harcourt. Construction of the railway began in 1913 and completed in 1919. The line was extended to Kaduna in 1926. [30]

The Port of Port Harcourt was the second largest port in Nigeria in the 1950s. In 1954, it cleared about $54 million worth of imports and exports, [31] while the shipping facilities at Calabar cleared $11 million worth of goods.

Government and politics

The region like Nigeria during the first republic operated a parliamentary system of government with a premier leading the executive branch and a bicameral legislature. The figurehead position of governor existed but it was subordinate to the premier. [32] Apart from the regional government, Eastern Nigeria also had a local government modeled after the English system. There were three tiers of governance levels within the system, the county and urban districts, the municipalities and the local councils. [32]

History

An African dominated government institution, the Eastern Regional Assembly with the powers to debate but not enact laws was established in 1948. It had fifteen nominated African members and fourteen nominated European officials. In 1951, the regional assembly was given more legislative and financial powers following the enactment of the McPherson Constitution. In addition, the assembly number of members in the assembly was enlarged to eighty elected African members, three special members and five officials. Though the NCNC dominated the 1951 election, party organization was not particularly strong because the party's headquarters was in Lagos and its leader did not contest election in the region. Many members elected to the House were previously independent candidates and only declared for the NCNC after their election to get political backing. [33] After a crisis in 1953, party organization was strengthened and in a new election conducted in 1953 and in which Azikiwe, the NCNC leader contested, the party had a decisive victory. [34]

The history of local government representation in the region were in three phases. The first phase was through warrant chiefs many of whom were created by the colonial government. But after the Aba riot of 1929, the system gradually gave way to the Native Authority administration led by older men within the communities. This system was not particularly strong as it was in Northern Nigeria. [35] In the 1950s, local government system following the English model of boroughs county and district councils was introduced. [36]

Cabinet of Michael Okpara

1960 Eastern Region, Nigeria [37]
NameOffice
Michael Iheonukara Okpara Premier
Ibanga Udo Akpabio Internal Affairs
Samuel Efem ImokeFinance
Patrick Nwokoye Okeke Agriculture
Basil Charles OkwuInformation
John Ugwu NwodoCommerce
Gilbert Ekwenugo OkekeEducation
Michael Oguejiofo Ajegbo Attorney General
Echeme EmoleTown Planning
Ezekiel Pappah OkoyaHealth
Paul Omerenyia UrurukaWorks
Pius NwogaLocal Government

Education

The village school was an important part of the community. Members of the community at home and abroad voluntarily gave money for the erection of school buildings. Wealthy or salaried family members were encouraged to sponsor the education of their younger ones. In 1956, there were about six thousand primary schools and fifty-four secondary schools. [38] Many of the secondary schools were managed by voluntary agencies and Christian missions and some schools were named after members of the mission including the Hope Waddell Training School, Dennis Memorial, Onitsha, Cornellia Connelly, Uyo and Crowther Memorial, Port Harcourt. Education became a major priority in the late 1950s and early '60s with the regional government at times devoting close to one third of its budget to education. [38] [39] Half of the money was used as subvention given to agencies managing the schools and to ensure a universal primary education programme. The church was instrumental to the education of the people, the Church of Scotland Mission (Later the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria), Figures like, the Dr. E. N. Amaku, Mr. Ntieyong U. Akpan, Justice Egbert Udo Udoma where all educated by the Mission.

University of Nigeria, Nsukka was established by the regional government. An agriculture training and research center was at Umudike. [40]

Cities and towns

The following cities were in the Eastern Region, Nigeria: [41] [42]

President of the House of Chiefs

NamePeriod
Chief Nyong Essien, CMG? – ? [43]

Speakers of the House of Assembly

NamePeriod
Ernest Egbuna 1954 – ? [44]
Eze Daniel Okereke, CMG? – ? [45]

Notable people

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akwa Ibom State</span> State in Nigeria

Akwa Ibom State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It borders Cross River State to the east, Rivers State and Abia State to the west and north-west, and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The state takes its name from the Qua Iboe River which bisects the state before flowing into the Bight of Bonny. Akwa Ibom was split from Cross River State in 1987 with her capital Uyo and with 31 local government areas.

Anaang is an ethnic group in Southern Nigeria, whose land is primarily within 8 of the present 31 Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State: Abak, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun in Akwa Ibom State. The Anaang are the second largest ethnic group after the Ibibios in Akwa Ibom state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enugu</span> Capital city of Enugu state, Nigeria

Enugu is the capital city of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located inland in the Southeastern part of Nigeria. According to the 2006 census, the city had a population of 820,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aba, Nigeria</span> City in Abia, Nigeria

Aba is a city in southeastern Nigeria and the commercial centre of Abia State. Upon the creation of Abia State in 1991, the old Aba township was divided into two local government areas, being Aba South and Aba North, while the suburban neighborhood of what was then known as Obioma Ngwa L.G.A. was divided into three L.G.A.s for administrative convenience. Aba South is the main city centre of Aba and Abia State at large, being located on the Aba River. Aba is made up of many villages such as Aba-Ukwu, Eziukwu-Aba, Obuda-Aba, Umuokpoji-Aba and other villages that have been merged for administrative convenience. Aba was established by the Ngwa clan of the Igbo people in Nigeria as a market town. Later, a military post was placed there by the British colonial administration in 1901. It lies along the west bank of the Aba River and is at the intersection of roads leading to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Umuahia, Ikot Ekpene, and Ikot-Abasi. The city became a collection point for agricultural products following construction of a British-made railway running through it to Port Harcourt. Aba is a major urban settlement and commercial centre in its region, which is surrounded by small villages and towns. The indigenous people of Aba are the Ngwa. Aba is well known for its craftsmen and is the most populous city in southeastern Nigeria. As of 2016, Aba had an estimated population of 2,534,265, making it the biggest city in South Eastern Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enugu State</span> State of Nigeria

Enugu State is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the south, and Anambra State to the west. The state takes its name from its capital and largest city, Enugu. The city acquired township status in 1917 and was called Enugwu-Ngwo. Due to the rapid expansion towards areas owned by other indigenous communities, it was renamed Enugu in 1928.

Ikot Ekpene, also known as The Raffia City, is a historic town in the south-southern state of Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. It is the political and cultural capital of the Annang ethnic group in Nigeria. The town is located on the A342 highway that parallels the coast, between Calabar to the southeast and Aba to the west, with the state capital, Uyo, on this road just to the east. Umuahia is the next major town to the north. The population of the Ikot Ekpene Local government area was estimated to be 180,500 in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Local government areas of Nigeria</span>

Nigeria has 774 local government areas (LGAs), each administered by a local government council consisting of a chairman, who is the chief executive, and other elected members, who are referred to as councillors. Each LGA is further subdivided into a minimum of ten and a maximum of twenty wards. A ward is administered by a councillor, who reports directly to the LGA chairman. The councillors fall under the legislative arm of the Local Government, the third tier of government in Nigeria, below the state governments and the federal government.

Eket is one of the 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The name Eket or Ekid also refers to the indigenous people of the region who are the Ibibio people of the southern part of Ibibioland and to their dialect which is Ekid. The Eket people use the endonym Ekid for themselves and their language, but Europeans spell and pronounce the name as "Eket".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene</span>

Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene (FGCIK) is a secondary school located in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The school was created by the Nigerian government in 1973 as one of the federally funded unity schools to bring together students from regions across Nigeria. The school has facilities for both boarding and day students. Students range from Junior Secondary One (JS1) through Senior Secondary Three (SS3). Students must complete the Federal Common Entrance Exams in order to apply for attendance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calabar</span> Roman Catholic archdiocese in Cross River State, Nigeria

The Archdiocese of Calabar is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Nigeria. Its archepiscopal see is Calabar, Cross River State. The Archbishop of Calabar is metropolitan of an ecclesiastical province with four suffragan dioceses: the Dioceses of Ikot Ekpene, Ogoja, Port Harcourt, and Uyo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The Diocese of Ikot Ekpene is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church. Its episcopal see is Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The Diocese of Ikot Ekpene is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Calabar.

Elijah Akpan Okon hailed from a royal lineage of leaders and chiefs in Ikot Mbon Ikono, Uyo, within the current Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. His father, Chief Nsentip Ekown, a distinguished ruler of Ikono and its surrounding areas, bestowed upon him the name Ukpong Nsentip Ekown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South South</span> Geopolitical zone in Nigeria

The South South is one of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. It designates both a geographic and political region of the country's eastern coast. It comprises six states – Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers.

Ibanga Akpabio was a Nigerian educator and government official who was a regional Minister of Education and later of Internal Affairs in the Eastern region, during Nigeria's first republic.

Michael Oguejiofo Ajegbo was a Nigerian lawyer and politician who was Attorney-General of Nigeria's Eastern Region during Nigeria's First Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Nzimiro</span> Nigerian businesswoman and politician

Mary Nzimiro, birthname Mary Nwametu Onumonu, MBE (1898–1993) was a pioneering Nigerian businesswoman, politician and women's activist. In 1948, she was appointed principal representative of the United Africa Company (UAC) for Eastern Nigeria, while maintaining textile and cosmetics retail outlets of her own in Port Harcourt, Aba and Owerri. By the early 1950s, she was among the richest individuals in West Africa, becoming a resident of the exclusive Bernard Carr Street in Port Harcourt. On the political front, she was a member of the influential National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, becoming a member of its executive committee in 1957 and vice-president of the NCNC Eastern Women's Association in 1962. During the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), she organized Igbo women in support of the Biafrans. As a result she lost most of her property in Port Harcourt and returned to her native Oguta where she died in 1993.

Nyong Essien Akpan Efio-Iwat Effembe Ebit Akpan Amaide Oku was a traditional ruler, teacher, and retired civil servant in Nigeria.

Sir Benedict Obidinma Odinamadu was a civil servant. He was the private Secretary to Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe., Dr. M.I. Okpara while Premiers of Eastern Region of Nigeria respectively and First Secretary to the Military Government of Colonel Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

References

  1. ↑ Groß & Wydra 2013, p. 36.
  2. ↑ Mwakikagile 2001, p. 23.
  3. 1 2 3 Information Service 1956, p. 5.
  4. ↑ Van Buer 1968, p. 20.
  5. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 6.
  6. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 7.
  7. ↑ Van Buer 1968, p. 21.
  8. ↑ Coleman 1971, p. 47.
  9. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. ii.
  10. ↑ Afigbo 1972, p. 89.
  11. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 9.
  12. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 14.
  13. ↑ Jones 2000, p. 68.
  14. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 17.
  15. ↑ Ministry of Information 1960, p. 59.
  16. ↑ Elliott Pap (26 July 2014). "Top 10 moments of the 1954 Empire Games". The Vancouver Sun . Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  17. ↑ Igwe 1987, p. 24.
  18. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 12.
  19. ↑ Igwe 1987, p. 27.
  20. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 13.
  21. 1 2 Information Service 1956, p. 18.
  22. ↑ Ministry of Commerce 1966, p. 20.
  23. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 30.
  24. ↑ Ministry of Information 1960, p. 30.
  25. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 24.
  26. ↑ Van Buer 1968, p. 23.
  27. 1 2 Information Service 1956, p. 19.
  28. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 20.
  29. 1 2 Information Service 1956, p. 28.
  30. ↑ Chuku 2015, p. 156.
  31. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 29.
  32. 1 2 Van Buer 1968, p. 24.
  33. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 36.
  34. ↑ Diamond 1988, p. 57.
  35. ↑ Information Service 1956, p. 34.
  36. ↑ Harris 1957, p. 21.
  37. ↑ Eastern Nigeria (Nigeria); Ministry of Internal Affairs (1960). Profiles of the ministers of Eastern Nigeria. Enugu: Govt. Printer. OCLC   19965584.
  38. 1 2 Information Service 1956, p. 39.
  39. ↑ Okoth 2006, p. 289.
  40. ↑ "Historical Background". Nrcri.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  41. ↑ Ministry of Information 1960, p. 9.
  42. ↑ Ministry of Information 1960, p. 39.
  43. ↑ Ministry of Information 1960, p. 17.
  44. ↑ Nwaubani 2001, p. 96.
  45. ↑ "Ngor Okpala Realigns for 2015 – Calls For Socio – Economic Emancipation". Imo Trumpeta. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  46. ↑ Federal Republic of Nigeria (October 1, 1965). "Official Gazette" (PDF). archives.gazettes.africa.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.