Ebonyi State

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Lore & Background

After independence in 1960, the area of present Ebonyi was a part of the post-independence Eastern Region until 1967 when the region was split and the area became part of the East Central State. Less than two months afterwards, the former Eastern Region attempted to secede in the three-year long Nigerian Civil War with Ebonyi as a part of the secessionist state of Biafra. At the war's end and the reunification of Nigeria, the East Central State was reformed until 1976 when the state's north became Anambra State and the south became Imo State. Fifteen years afterwards, Anambra and Imo states were divided with their eastern parts becoming Enugu State and Abia State, respectively. It was not until 1996, when Enugu State's east and Abia's northeast were split off and joined to form Ebonyi State. It was one of the six states created in 1996 by the then federal military government of General Sani Abacha. The state has three senatorial zones: the Abakaliki division make up Ebonyi North and Ebonyi Central senatorial zones, while the Afikpo, Edda, Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo division make up the Ebonyi South senatorial zone. Ebonyi has thirteen local government areas.

Reader's Guide

Economically, Ebonyi State is based around agriculture, mainly of yams, rice, oil palm, and cassava crops. A key minor industry is mining due to lead, zinc, and limestone deposits around Abakaliki, and locally hand-made baskets of various sizes at Ntezi. Ebonyi is called 'the salt of the nation' for its huge salt deposit at the Okposi and Uburu Salt Lakes. The state has invested in infrastructure, including the Ebonyi State International Airport, built on the Abakaliki end of the Abakaliki-Afikpo Expressway, and 23 flyovers, the highest in South East Nigeria. Ebonyi state is known for its trademark concrete roads and multicolored infrastructure, began by former governor Dave Umahi. Politically, in 1999, Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu was elected as the first governor of the state under the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He was succeeded by Martin Elechi who was elected in 2007 and successfully ran for re-election in 2011, under the same PDP. Gov Martin Elechi was succeeded by Governor Dave Umahi, who was elected in the March 2015 election and re-elected in March 2019 for a second term in office. During his second tenure, Governor Dave Umahi defected to All Progressive Congress (APC) just prior to the 2023 General elections. His new party (APC) subsequently produced the Governor that succeeded him, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, whose first tenure will elapse on May 29th, 2027. Ebonyi has the joint-twentieth highest Human Development Index in the country and numerous institutions of tertiary education.

Did You Know?

• Ebonyi State was formed from parts of Abia and Enugu states in 1996 by the federal military government of General Sani Abacha.
• The state is named after the Abonyi (Aboine) River, a large part of which is in the state's south.
• Ebonyi has 23 flyovers, the highest number in South East Nigeria.
• The state is called 'the salt of the nation' for its huge salt deposit at the Okposi and Uburu Salt Lakes.
• Ebonyi has the joint-twentieth highest Human Development Index in the country.