View source for Eastern Region, Nigeria

{{Short description|Administrative region in Nigeria}}
{{Infobox former subdivision
|_noautocat             = <!-- "no" for no automatic categorization -->
|native_name            = <!-- Name in native language(s). Leave blank if name is only in English. Separate with line breaks<br> If language uses Latin characters, place name(s) in italics. -->
|conventional_long_name = Eastern Region
|common_name            = Eastern Region
|subdivision            = [[Autonomous administrative division|Autonomous region]]
|nation                 = [[First Nigerian Republic|Nigeria]]
|demonym                = <nowiki>Easterner</nowiki>
|status_text            = <!-- A free text to describe status the top of the infobox. Use sparingly. -->
<!-- Titles and names of the first and last leaders and their deputies -->
|title_leader           = [[List of Governors of Eastern Region, Nigeria|Governor]]
|title_deputy           = [[Nigerian region governors and premiers in the First Republic|Premier]] 
|leader1                = [[Clement John Pleass]]
|year_leader1           = 1954–1956
|leader2                = [[Robert Stapledon]]
|year_leader2           = 1956–1960
|leader3                = [[Francis Akanu Ibiam]]
|year_leader3           = 1960–1966
|leader4                = [[C. Odumegwu Ojukwu|Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu]]
|year_leader4           = 1966–1967
|deputy1                = [[Eyo Ita]]
|year_deputy1           = 1951–1953
|deputy2                = [[Nnamdi Azikiwe]]
|year_deputy2           = 1954–1959
|deputy3                = [[Michael Okpara]]
|year_deputy3           = 1959–1966
<!-- Legislature -->
|legislature            = [[Eastern Regional Assembly]]
|house1                 = [[Eastern House of Chiefs|House of Chiefs]]
|house2                 = [[Eastern House of Assembly|House of Assembly]]
|type_house1            = <!-- Default: "Upper house" -->
|type_house2            = <!-- Default: "Lower house" -->
<!-- General information -->
|capital                = [[Enugu (city)|Enugu]]
|coordinates            = <!-- Use {{Coord}} -->
|motto                  = <!-- Accepts wikilinks -->
|anthem                 = <!-- Accepts wikilinks -->
|political_subdiv       = <!-- Accepts wikilinks -->
|today                  = [[Nigeria]]
<!-- Rise and fall, events, years and dates -->
<!-- Only fill in the start/end event entry if a specific article exists. Don't just say "abolition" or "declaration". -->
|year_start             = 1954
|year_end               = 1967
|event_start            = [[Federation of Nigeria|Established]]
|date_start             = 1 October 
|event_end              = [[Biafra|Independence]] (as Biafra)
|date_end               = 27 May
|event1                 = [[1956−57 Nigerian regional elections|Elections]] 
|date_event1            = 15 March 1957
|event2                 = [[Independence Day (Nigeria)|End of British rule]] 
|date_event2            = 1 October 1960
|event3                 = [[1961 Eastern Region legislative election|Elections]]
|date_event3            = 16 November 1961
|event4                 = [[Constitution of Nigeria|Constitution]] of the [[First Nigerian Republic|First Republic]]
|date_event4            = 1 October 1963
|event5                 = [[1966 Nigerian coup d'état|Coup d'état]]
|date_event5            = 15 January 1966 
|event6                 = [[1966 Nigerian counter-coup|Counter-coup]]
|date_event6            = 28 July 1966
|event7                 = [[1966 anti-Igbo pogrom|Anti-Igbo pogrom]]
|date_event7            = May–October 1966
|event8                 = [[Aburi Accord]]
|date_event8            = 5 January 1967
|life_span              = 
|era                    = [[Decolonisation of Africa]]
|event_pre              = [[Niger Coast Protectorate|British colonization]]
|date_pre               = 1884
|event_post             = [[Nigerian Civil War|Dissolution of Biafra]]
|date_post              = 15 January 1970
<!-- Images -->
|image_flag             = <!-- Default: Flag of {{{common_name}}}.svg -->
|image_border           = <!-- Default: "border"; for non-rectangular flag, type "no" -->
|flag_type              = <!-- Displayed text for link under flag. Default "Flag" -->
|flag                   = <!-- Link target under flag image. Default: Flag of {{{common_name}}} -->
|image_coat             = <!-- Default: Coat of arms of {{{common_name}}}.svg -->
|symbol_type            = <!-- Displayed text for link under symbol. Default "Coat of arms" -->
|symbol                 = <!-- Link target under symbol image. Default: Coat of arms of {{{common_name}}} -->
|image_map              = Biafra_in_its_region.svg
|image_map_caption      = 
<!-- Flag navigation: Preceding and succeeding entities "p1" to "p5" and "s1" to "s8" -->
|p1                     = Colonial Nigeria
|flag_p1                = Flag_of_Nigeria_(1914–1952).svg
|border_p1              = <!-- Default: "border"; for non-rectangular flag, type "no" -->
|image_p1               = <!-- Use: [[Image:Sin escudo.svg|20px|Image missing]] -->
|s1                     = Biafra
|flag_s1                = Flag of Biafra.svg
|border_s1              = <!-- Default: "border"; for non-rectangular flag, type "no" -->
|image_s1               = <!-- Use: [[Image:Sin escudo.svg|20px|Image missing]] -->
<!-- Area and population of a given year (up to 5) -->
|stat_year1             = 1965
|stat_area1             = 76145.65
|stat_pop1              = 12,000,000
<!-- Governance -->
|Status                 = 
|Government             = [[Eastern Nigerian Government]]
|government_type        = [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentary]] [[constitutional monarchy]] {{small|(1954–1963)}}<br>[[Parliamentary republic]] {{small|(1963–1966)}}<br>[[Military dictatorship]] {{small|(1966–1967)}}
|Arms                   = 
|arms_caption           = 
|Civic                  = 
|civic_caption          = 
|HQ                     = 
|CodeName               = 
|Code                   = 
<!-- Subdivisions -->
|Divisions              = 
|DivisionsNames         = 
|DivisionsMap           = 
|divisions_map_caption = 
<!-- Memberships -->
|membership_title1      =
|membership1            = 
|membership_title2      = 
|membership2            = 
|membership_title3      = 
|membership3            = 
|membership_title4      = 
|membership4            = 
|membership_title5      = 
|membership5            = 
|footnotes              = <!-- Accepts wikilinks -->
}}
The '''Eastern Region''' was an [[political division|administrative region]] in [[Nigeria]], dating back originally from the division of the colony [[Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria|Southern Nigeria]] in 1954. Its first capital was [[Calabar]]. The capital was later moved to [[Enugu (city)|Enugu]] and the second capital was [[Umuahia]]. The region was officially divided in 1967 into three new [[states of Nigeria|states]], the [[East-Central State]], [[Rivers State]] and [[South-Eastern State, Nigeria|South-Eastern State]]. East-Central State had its capital at Enugu, which is now part of [[Enugu State]].{{sfn|Groß|Wydra|2013|p=36}}

The region had the third-, fourth- and fifth-largest indigenous ethnic groups including [[Igbo people|Igbo]], Ibibio and [[Ijaw people|Ijaw]]. It was what later became [[Biafra]], which was in rebellion from 1967 to 1970.{{sfn|Mwakikagile|2001|p=23}}

==Geography==
The Eastern region of Nigeria was geographically located in [[Points of the compass|Southeastern]] Nigeria.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=5}} It is [[Natural border|bordered]] by the [[Niger river]] in the West and has an administrative and cultural [[border]] with the [[Northern Region, Nigeria|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 {{convert|29400|sqmi|km2|order=flip}}.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=5}} In 1965, the region had a population of twelve million people and some areas such as [[Owerri]] and those inhabited by the [[Annang]]s were one of the most densely populated places in [[West Africa]].{{sfn|Van Buer|1968|p=20}} 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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=5}} In the northernmost parts of the region is the [[Guinean forest-savanna mosaic|guinea savannah]]. Major rivers of the region include rivers of [[Niger Delta]] system such as [[Kwa Ibo River|Qua Iboe]], [[Cross River (Nigeria)|Cross River]], [[Orashi River]] and [[Imo River]]. [[Obudu Plateau]] in the northeastern area, the [[Oban Hills|Oban]] and Ikom Hills along the eastern boundary with Cameroon were a few of the highlands in the region.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=6}}

==History==
{{Further|History of Igboland}}

===Colonial rule===
In 1849, [[John Beecroft]], the governor of [[Fernando Pó (island)|Fernando Po]] became the British consul agent for the Bights of [[Bight of Benin|Benin]] and [[Bight of Biafra|Biafra]].{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=7}} Beecroft was chosen to be in charge of regulating the trade at the ports of old and New Calabar and those at Benin, [[Bonny, Rivers|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 [[Royal Niger Company|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.{{sfn|Van Buer|1968|p=21}} During the [[World War II|war]] period, the provinces were given more power due to shortage of personnel.{{sfn|Coleman|1971|p=47}}

Historically, residents of Eastern Nigeria had an individualistic and democratic culture.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=ii}} 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.{{sfn|Afigbo|1972|p=89}}

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 [[Church Mission Society|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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=9}}

==Culture==
Prior to World War II, there were five major cities in Eastern Nigeria, [[Port Harcourt]] and [[Enugu (city)|Enugu]] created after World War I, [[Calabar]], [[Uyo]], [[Ikot Ekpene]], Onitsha and [[Aba, Abia|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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=14}}

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 [[Efik people|Efiks]] and [[Ibibio people|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.{{sfn|Jones|2000|p=68}} In many areas in the region, the use of native courts to settle debts and [[bride price]] were important social institutions.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=17}}

Dancing and sports were also important social elements in the Eastern region.{{sfn|Ministry of Information|1960|p=59}} 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.<ref name="Emmanuel">{{cite news|author=Elliott Pap|url=https://vancouversun.com/touch/sports/moments+1954+empire+games/10064221/story.html|title=Top 10 moments of the 1954 Empire Games|work=[[The Vancouver Sun]]|date=26 July 2014|access-date=26 August 2016}}</ref>

==Demographics==
The Eastern region had an ethnically diverse population. The largest ethnic group in the region were the [[Igbo people|Igbos]].{{sfn|Igwe|1987|p=24}} 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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=12}} The [[Ibibio people|Ibibios]] and [[Efik people|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 language|Ijaw]] speaking people of Opobo, Bonny, [[Degema language|Degema]], [[Okrika]], [[Buguma]], [[Brass, Nigeria|Brass]] and [[Abonnema]].{{sfn|Igwe|1987|p=27}} The Ijaws had a marked chieftaincy tradition. Other groups within the region were the [[Annang]] of Ikot Ekpene, [[Yakurr]], [[Bahumono]], [[Oron people|Oron]], [[Ogoni people|Ogoni]] and [[Ekoi people|Ekoi]].{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=13}}

==Economy==
Trade in [[Elaeis guineensis|palm]] produce was a dominant feature in the economy of Eastern Nigeria. Though not indigenous to the region, the palm tree provided [[Palm branch (symbol)|fronds]] for roofing of houses in the villages, [[palm wine]] for drinking and [[palm kernel]]s as source of foreign exchange income.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=18}} 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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=18}} Employment in farming and agriculture was a significant source of income for many residents engaged in [[Yam (vegetable)|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.{{sfn|Ministry of Commerce|1966|p=20}}

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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=30}} The trade in imported goods such as dried fish, motor parts, textiles goes on along with the trade in local foodstuff.{{sfn|Ministry of Information|1960|p=30}}

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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=24}} 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.{{sfn|Van Buer|1968|p=23}}

===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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=19}} 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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=19}} Rice cultivation was also encouraged in [[Abakaliki]] and [[Ogoja]].{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=20}}

===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 [[Gravel road|laterite]] and [[Dirt road|earth]] roads. In 1955 about {{convert|8000|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} of roads were cleared but less than 10% were tarred.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=28}} Most travelers use lorries with expressive mottoes such as 'God's time is best' or 'No sweat, No sweat'{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=28}} 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.{{sfn|Chuku|2015|p=156}}

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,{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=29}} while the shipping facilities at Calabar cleared $11 million worth of goods.

==Government and politics==
The region like Nigeria during the [[Nigerian First Republic|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.{{sfn|Van Buer|1968|p=24}} 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.{{sfn|Van Buer|1968|p=24}}

===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 [[Constitution of Nigeria#Colonial era (1914–1960)|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 [[National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons|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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=36}} 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.{{sfn|Diamond|1988|p=57}}

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 Women's Riots|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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=34}} In the 1950s, local government system following the English model of boroughs county and district councils was introduced.{{sfn|Harris|1957|p=21}}

=== Cabinet of Michael Okpara ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+1960 Eastern Region, Nigeria<ref>{{Cite book|last=Eastern Nigeria (Nigeria)|title=Profiles of the ministers of Eastern Nigeria.|last2=Ministry of Internal Affairs|date=1960|publisher=Govt. Printer|location=Enugu|language=en|oclc=19965584}}</ref>
!Name
!Office
|-
|[[Michael Okpara|Michael Iheonukara Okpara]]
|Premier
|-
|[[Ibanga Akpabio|Ibanga Udo Akpabio]]
|Internal Affairs
|-
|Samuel Efem Imoke
|Finance
|-
|[[P. N. Okeke-Ojiudu|Patrick Nwokoye Okeke]]
|Agriculture
|-
|Basil Charles Okwu
|Information
|-
|John Ugwu Nwodo
|Commerce
|-
|Gilbert Ekwenugo Okeke
|Education
|-
|[[Michael Ajegbo|Michael Oguejiofo Ajegbo]]
|Attorney General
|-
|Echeme Emole
|Town Planning
|-
|Ezekiel Pappah Okoya
|Health
|-
|Paul Omerenyia Ururuka
|Works
|-
|Pius Nwoga
|Local 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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=39}} 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.{{sfn|Information Service|1956|p=39}}{{sfn|Okoth|2006|p=289}} 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Background|url=http://www.nrcri.gov.ng/historical-background/|access-date=26 August 2016|website=Nrcri.gov.ng|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828180651/http://www.nrcri.gov.ng/historical-background/|archive-date=28 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Cities and towns==
The following cities were in the Eastern Region, Nigeria:{{sfn|Ministry of Information|1960|p=9}}{{sfn|Ministry of Information|1960|p=39}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Aba, Abia|Aba]]
* [[Abakaliki]]
* [[Abonnema]]
* [[Ahoada]]
* [[Awka]]
* [[Bori City]]
* [[Buguma]]
* [[Calabar]]
* [[Eket]]
* [[Enugu (city)|Enugu]]
* [[Igwuruta]]
* [[Ikot-Abasi]]
* [[Ikot Ekpene]]
* [[Nnewi]]
* [[Nsukka]]
* [[Owo, Enugu|Owo]]
* [[Omoku]]
* [[Onitsha]]
* [[Opobo]]
* [[Orlu, Imo|Orlu]]
* [[Owerri]]
* [[Port Harcourt]]
* [[Umuahia]]
* [[Uyo, Akwa Ibom|Uyo]]
* [[Yenagoa]]
* [[Itu, Akwa Ibom|Itu]]
* [[Oron, Akwa Ibom|Oron]]
{{div col end}}

==President of the House of Chiefs==

{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Period
|-
|''Chief'' Nyong Essien, CMG
|? – ?{{sfn|Ministry of Information|1960|p=17}}
|}

==Speakers of the House of Assembly==

{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Period
|-
|[[Ernest Egbuna]]
|1954 – ?{{sfn|Nwaubani|2001|p=96}}
|-
|[[Eze Daniel Okereke]], CMG
|? – ?<ref name="Ngo">{{cite news|title=Ngor Okpala Realigns for 2015 – Calls For Socio – Economic Emancipation|url=http://www.imotrumpeta.com/?p=2137|access-date=11 September 2016|work=Imo Trumpeta|date=12 September 2012}}</ref>
|}

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[Paul Ururuka]] (1910-1970), former Minister of Works and Minister of Commerce<ref>{{Cite web |last=Federal Republic of Nigeria |date=October 1, 1965 |title=Official Gazette |url=https://archive.gazettes.africa/archive/ng/1965/ng-government-gazette-dated-1965-10-01-no-75.pdf |website=archives.gazettes.africa}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Igboland]]
*[[Northern Region, Nigeria]]
*[[Western Region, Nigeria]]
*[[Revenue stamps of Nigeria#Eastern Nigeria|Revenue stamps of Eastern Nigeria]]
*[[Mid-Western Region, Nigeria]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book |last= Information Service |date=1956 |title=Eastern Region (Nigeria) |location=Enugu |publisher=Enugu, Eastern Nigeria Information Service }}
*{{cite thesis |last=Van Buer |first=Franklin |date=1968 |title=THE STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE EASTERN NIGERIAN TAX SYSTEM |chapter=2 |publisher=University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign }}
*{{cite book|last=Diamond|first=Larry Jay|date=1988|title=Class, Ethnicity, and Democracy in Nigeria: The Failure of the First Republic|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=0815624220 }}
*{{cite book|last=Igwe|first=Samuel Okoronkwo|date=1987|title=Education in Eastern Nigeria, 1847–1975: Development and Management: Church, State and Community|publisher=Evans Brothers|isbn=023750832X }}
*{{cite book|last=Jones|first=G.I.|date=2000|title=The Trading States of the Oil Rivers: A Study of Political Development in Eastern Nigeria|publisher=James Currey Publishers|isbn=0852559186 }}
*{{cite book|editor-last1=Groß |editor-first1=Uwe |editor-last2=Wydra |editor-first2=Kerstin |date=5 November 2013|title=Maternal-Child Health: Interdisciplinary Aspects Within the Perspective of Global Health|publisher=Universitätsverlag Göttingen|isbn=978-3863950842 }}
*{{cite book|last=Afigbo|first=Adiele, Eberechukwu|date=1972|title=The Warrant Chiefs: indirect rule in southeastern Nigeria, 1891–1929|publisher=Longman }}
*{{cite book|last=Ministry of Information|first=Eastern Region (Nigeria)|date=1960|title=Eastern Nigeria|publisher=Eastern Nigeria Ministry of Information }}
*{{cite book|last=Okoth|first=Assa|title=African nationalism and the de-colonisation process : [1915–1995]|date=2006|publisher=East African Educational Publ.|location=Nairobi [u.a.]|isbn=9966253580|edition=Rev }}
*{{cite book|last=Ministry of Commerce|first=Eastern Region (Nigeria)|date=1966|title=Investment opportunities in Eastern Nigeria|publisher=Govt. Printer }}
*{{cite book|last=Nwaubani|first=Ebere|title=The United States and decolonization in West Africa, 1950 – 1960|date=2001|publisher=Univ. of Rochester Press|location=Rochester, NY|isbn=1580460763}}
*{{cite book|last=Harris|first=Philip James|date=1957|title=Local Government in Southern Nigeria: A Manual of Law and Procedure Under the Eastern Region Local Government Law, 1955, and the Western Region Local Government Law, 1952|publisher=University Press}}
*{{cite book|last=Coleman|first=James Smoot|date=1971|title=Nigeria|publisher=University of California Press}}
*{{cite book|last=Mwakikagile|first=Godfrey|title=Ethnic politics in Kenya and Nigeria|date=2001|publisher=Nova Science Publ.|location=Huntington, NY|isbn=1560729678}}
*{{cite book|last=Chuku|first=Gloria|date=2015|title=Igbo Women and Economic Transformation in Southeastern Nigeria, 1900–1960|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1135469405}}

{{Coord missing|Nigeria}}
{{Biafra topics}}
{{EasternRegionGovernors}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Former Nigerian administrative divisions]]
[[Category:Colonial Nigeria]]