Eastern Nigeria
| Eastern Region | |
|---|---|
| Administrative region | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Autonomized | 1 October 1954 |
| Dissolved | 27 May 1967 |
| Capital | Enugu |
| Largest city | Port Harcourt |
| Government | |
| • Type | Parliamentary republic |
| • Body | Eastern Nigerian Government |
| • Governor | Francis Akanu Ibiam |
| • Premier | Michael Okpara |
| • Legislature |
Bicameral House of Chiefs House of Assembly |
| Area | |
| • Total | 76,145.65 km2 (29,400.00 sq mi) |
| Population (1965) | |
| • Total | 12,000,000 |
| • Density | 160/km2 (410/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Easterner |
| Time zone | GMT |
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.
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.
The Eastern region of Nigeria was geographically located in Southeastern Nigeria. 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). 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. The Awka region also suffered from soil erosion.
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