Enugu State

Enugu State
State
Nickname(s): Coal City State, Wawa State[1]
Igbo: Ọrā nke Ama ichekù

Location of Enugu in Nigeria
Coordinates: 6°30′N 7°30′E / 6.500°N 7.500°E / 6.500; 7.500Coordinates: 6°30′N 7°30′E / 6.500°N 7.500°E / 6.500; 7.500
Country  Nigeria
Date created 27 August 1991
Capital Enugu
Government
 • Governor[2] Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (PDP)
Area
 • Total 7,161 km2 (2,765 sq mi)
Area rank 29 of 36
Population (2006 Census)[3]
 • Total 3,267,837
 • Rank 22 of 36
 • Density 460/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zone WAT (UTC+01)
Area code(s) 042
ISO 3166 code NG-EN
Website enugustate.gov.ng

Enugu, usually referred to as Enugu State to distinguish it from the city of Enugu, is a state in southeastern Nigeria. Its capital is Enugu, from which the state – created in 1991 from the old Anambra State – derives its name. The principal cities in the state are Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Oji-River, and Nsukka.


Geography

Enugu State is one of the states in the eastern part of Nigeria. The state shares borders with Abia State and Imo State to the south, Ebonyi State to the east, Benue State to the northeast, Kogi State to the northwest and Anambra State to the west.

Enugu, the capital city of Enugu State, is approximately 2½ driving hours away from Port Harcourt, where coal shipments exited Nigeria. Enugu is also located within an hour's drive from Onitsha, one of the biggest commercial cities in Africa and two hours' drive from Aba, another very large commercial city, both of which are trading centres in Nigeria. The average temperature in this city is cooler to mild (60 degrees Fahrenheit) in its cooler months and gets warmer to hot in its warmer months (upper 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and very good for outdoor activities with family and friends or just for personal leisure.

Enugu has good soil-land and climatic conditions all year round, sitting at about 223 metres (732 ft) above sea level, and the soil is well drained during its rainy seasons. The mean temperature in Enugu State in the hottest month of February is about 87.16 °F (30.64 °C), while the lowest temperatures occur in the month of November, reaching 60.54 °F (15.86 °C). The lowest rainfall of about 0.16 cubic centimetres (0.0098 cu in) is normal in February, while the highest is about 35.7 cubic centimetres (2.18 cu in) in July.

History

The name of the state derives from its capital city, Enugu. The word "Enugu" (from Enu Ugwu) means "the top of the hill". The first European settlers arrived in the area in 1909, led by a British mining engineer named Albert Kitson. In his quest for silver, he discovered coal in the Udi Ridge. The Colonial Governor of Nigeria Frederick Lugard took a keen interest in the discovery, and by 1914 the first shipment of coal was made to Britain. As mining activities increased in the area, a permanent cosmopolitan settlement emerged, supported by a railway system. Enugu acquired township status in 1917 and became strategic to British interests. Foreign businesses began to move into Enugu, the most notable of which were John Holt, Kingsway Stores, the British Bank of West Africa and the United Africa Company.

From Enugu the British administration was able to spread its influence over the Southern Province of Nigeria. The colonial past of Enugu is today evidenced by the Georgian building types and meandering narrow roads within the residential area originally reserved for the whites, an area which is today called the Government Reserved Area (GRA).

From being the capital of the Southern Provinces, Enugu became the capital of the Eastern Region (now divided into nine States), the capital of now defunct Federal Republic of Biafra, thereafter, the capital of East Central State, Anambra State, (old) Enugu State, and now the capital of the present Enugu State through a process of state creation and diffusion of administrative authority.

Politics

The State Government and the Local Government are the two levels of government in Enugu State and in all other states of Nigeria. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is the current executive governor of Enugu State. He was elected by the people in April 2015 and was sworn in on 29 May 2015. Sullivan Chime is the immediate governor succeeding Chimaroke Nnamani. He was elected by the people of Enugu State in April 2007[4] and was sworn into office on 29 May 2007.[5] The governor is above a group of commissioners who he has placed as heads of ministries that oversee various portfolios such as Health and Housing; both the governor and the commissioners form the Executive Council of Enugu State. Government House, Enugu is where the government of the state is based.

Local Government Areas

Enugu State consists of 17 Local Government Areas.[6] They are:

Economy

Economically, the state is predominantly rural and agrarian, with a substantial proportion of its working population engaged in farming, although trading (18.8%) and services (12.9%) are also important. In the urban areas trading is the dominant occupation, followed by services. A small proportion of the population is also engaged in manufacturing activities, with the most pronounced among them located in Enugu, Oji, Ohebedim and Nsukka. The state boasts of a number of markets especially at each of the divisional headquarters, prominent of which is the Ogbete Main market in the State capital, Enugu. There is also one of the largest grains market East of the Niger, the Orie Orba Market which plays host to most farmers from the North Central States of Benue, Kogi, Nassarawa and Plateau who use the market to dispose their produce for consumers in South-East and South-Southern Nigeria . Every four days, grains and other farm produce are found in large quantities and at highly competitive prices.

Energy

Electricity supply is relatively stable in Enugu and its Environs. The Oji River Power Station (which used to supply electricity to all of Eastern Nigeria) is located in Enugu State. With the deregulation of electricity generation in Nigeria, and the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), it is hoped the State Government would assist private investors to negotiate the take over and reactivation of the Oji Power Station. This is more so with the proximity of the Enugu coal mines to the power station, a driving distance of about 20 minutes. There are also traces of crude oil in Ugwuoba, in the same Oji-River Local Government area of the state. The state will also negotiate with investors interested in investing in the coal mining in Enugu. The coal industry used to be one of the biggest employer of labour in the state and the state is looking to attract investors in the industry.

Education

Every community in Enugu State has at least one Primary/Elementary school and one Secondary school, funded and run by State Government. There are also large numbers of private nursery, primary and secondary schools in Enugu State.

Nigeria's first indigenous university, (University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)), is located in Enugu State. The state also hosts the Enugu State University of Science & Technology (ESUT), Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Federal Cooperative College, Oji River (FCCO); Enugu State College of Education Technical, Enugu; Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, Renaissance University, Ugbawka; Command Day Secondary School Enugu, Federal Government College Enugu, Federal School of Dental Technology & Therapy, College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu, Queen's School Enugu a Prominent high school for girls in the Eastern region; St. Theresa's College, Nsukka; Special Science Boys' Secondary School Agbani, Nkanu West l.g.a; [St. Patrick's Secondary School], Emene, Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu; Awgu County College, Nenwe; Community Secondary School, Ugbo-Okpala, Ugbo; Corpus Christi College, Achi, Royal Crown Academy, Nsukka, Enugu State, Enugu]; Our Saviour Institute of Science and Technology, Enugu; and the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Seat of Wisdom Secondary School Trans Ekulu Enugu,Osisatech boys secondary school. There are also a host of private computer schools and training centres concentrated in Enugu and Nsukka. There are also notable private Tertiary Institutions in Enugu such as Caritas University, a Catholic university founded by a Catholic Priest: Father Edeh, and Renaissance University.

Medicine

The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) is located in Enugu State, as is the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital and College of Medicine. In addition to numerous private hospitals and clinics in the state, there are seven District Hospitals at Enugu –Urban, Udi, Agbani, Awgu, Ikem, Enugu-Ezike, and Nsukka – and at least one health centre or cottage hospital in every one of the 17 Local Government Areas and 39 Development Centres in the state.

Demographics

Enugu State had a population of 3,267,837 people at the census held in 2006 (estimated at over 3.8 million in 2012). It is home of the Igbo of southeastern and few Idoma/Igala people in Ette (Igbo-Eze North) of Enugu State, Nigeria.

Religion

Christianity, Odinani and neutralist.

Invasion

In the early hours of April 25, 2016, seven communities of Nimbo were invaded by terrorists. The community's Roman Catholic, Christ Holy Catholic Church, was burnt, 11 houses destroyed and scores were massacred by over 500 heavily armed Fulani herdsmen, rated the fourth deadliest terror group in the world,[7] in what is now known as "Enugu Massacre".[8][9] [10][11][12][13]

According to the State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the terrorism at Nimbo may have happened due to inability of security agencies to successfully act on the counter intelligence report about herdsmen grouping at neighbouring Odolu in Kogi State in preparation for attack.[14] Attack on Nimbo followed similar attack on Abbi, another Uzo Uwani community, where a brother and sister-Fidelis and Mercy Okeja were reportedly killed instantly, and 19 persons declared missing whilst seven houses and motocycles were raised down, earlier in February 2016.[15]


References

  1. ↑ Williams, Lizzie (2008). Nigeria: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 196. ISBN 1-84162-239-7.
  2. ↑ See List of Governors of Enugu State for a list of prior governors
  3. ↑ "Population by State and Sex" (PDF). population.gov.ng. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2011.
  4. ↑ Nwokwor, Uderi (14 December 2007). "AC's argument on substitution of Enugu deputy governorship candidate". The Daily Sun. Sun News.
  5. ↑ Nzomiwu, Emmanuel (4 May 2010). "Chime Avoids Workers Again". Daily Independent. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  6. ↑ Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics
  7. ↑ "Global Terrorism Index: Nigerian Fulani militants named as fourth deadliest terror group in world". www.independent.co.uk. November 18, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Photos From Nimbo Massacre, Six More Bodies Recovered, Ugwuanyi Doles Out 5M To The Community". www.easternradio.com.ng. April 27, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Breaking news: Many feared killed as Fulani herdsmen invade Enugu communities". www.vanguardngr.com. April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Bloodbath in Enugu as Fulani herdsmen kill 40". www.vanguardngr.com. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  11. ↑ "'Scores Killed' in Suspected Attacks by Fulani Herdsmen in Nigeria". europe.newsweek.com. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Catholic Church, houses burnt as Fulani Herdsmen invade Enugu communities". www.vanguardngr.com. April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  13. ↑ "I alerted security operatives before Fulani herdsmen attack, says Ugwuanyi". www.vanguardngr.com. April 12, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  14. ↑ "I alerted security operatives before Fulani herdsmen attack, says Ugwuanyi". www.vanguardngr.com. April 12, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Fulani herdsmen invade Enugu community kill two, 19 missing". www.vanguardngr.com. February 14, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.

External links

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