BIAFRA
Now that Lagos has joined the league of oil producing states, and North-east is rehearsing to accede to the same league, is advisable that Biafrans should be giving a relief of breath. Since 1970 till the date of the oil boom in Nigeria, Biafrans has been the life stream of Nigeria. Lord Lugard and Flora Shaw brought the marriage of Nigeria in existence just to allow the Eastern region (Biafrans) to help the sluggish Northern Region (Arewas) to catch a breath of life. The oil producing places are predominantly Biafra land: 1. Abia, 2. Akwa Ibom, 3. Bayelsa, 4. Cross River, 5. Delta, 6. IMO, 7. Rivers (except 8. Ondo and 9. The Edo States).
Ebonyi is primarily an agricultural region. It is a leading producer of rice, yam, potatoes, maize, beans, and cassava in Nigeria. Rice and yams are predominantly cultivated in Edda, a region within the state. Ebonyi has several solid mineral resources, including lead, crude oil, and natural gas, but few large-scale commercial mines.
Imo state is rich in natural resources including crude oil, natural gas, lead, zinc. Economically exploitable flora like the iroko, mahogany, obeche, bamboo, rubber tree and oil palm predominate.
Abia State is rich with Bamboo, Zinc, crude oil, lead, Kaolin, Natural gas, Iron Ore, Rubber, Tar, Limestone, Laterite, and Gypsum. Aba has one of the biggest markets in Nigeria known as Ariaria Market. Aba is technologically inclined, creative and innovative.
Anambra is rich in natural gas, crude oil, bauxite, ceramic and has an almost 100 percent arable soil. Anambra State has one of the Megamarkets in Nigeria located at Onitsha known as Onitsha Market. Enugu State has Coal, Lead, Zinc and Orji River power station.
Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and the Delta States are richly blessed with a variety of natural resources; it treasures an abundant array of mineral, water and forest resources of immense economic potentials. Exploitable solid minerals found in these states include sand, clay, salt, limestone, coal, silver nitrate, etc. Among the lot, sand, clay, and salt seem to gain more prominence but are still largely under-utilised. However, sand is next to oil and gas on the scale of tapped minerals.
Aside petroleum crude oil, the vast economic potentials of Biafra has not been optimally tapped. Biafra, through its rich petroleum oil and natural gas deposits, accounts for over 90% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings; this position had remained thus since the early 1970s. Notwithstanding the monumental contributions of the Biafra to the wealth of the murderous country, and the attendant negative impact on its environment as a result of the enormous contributions, tiny or no development impact had been extended to Biafra.
In spite of our generosity, we have been punished, oppressed, killed, marginalized and offended. The people been helped has ended up becoming the ones to choose when Biafrans eat or how to live. Is not right for Biafrans to keep entertaining such humiliation as accorded to them by Fulanis/Hausas.
By Prince Richmond C. Amadi
Editor Udeagha Obasi
UmuChiukwu Writers
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