Anambra State

Anambra State State nickname:
Location
Statistics
Date Created	27 August 1991
Capital	Awka
Official language	English
Area	4,844km² Ranked 35 of 36
Population  - 2006 Census¹  - 2005 (estimate)  - 1991 Census  - Density (2006)	Ranked 10 of 36 20,182,032 18,821,858 N/A 863/km²
GDP (PPP)  - Total  - Per capita	2007 $26.76 billion[1] $1,585[1]
Current Governor Previous Governors	Peter Obi (APGA)
ISO 3166-2	NG-AN
Website	[1]
¹ Preliminary results

Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its state theme is "Light Of The Nation" Its boundaries are formed by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north. The origin of the name is derived from the "Omambala River" which is easily called Anambra River depending on which dialect used in pronouncing it. Omambala River is on the northern part of Anambra state and stretches to the famous River Niger.

The indigenous ethnic group in Anambra state are the Igbo (98% of population) and Igala (2% of the population).^[2] The state has one of the highest population densities in Nigeria. The stretch of more than 70KM between Oba and Uli contains a cluster of numerous thickly populated villages and small towns giving the area an estimated density of 1500-2000 persons living within every square kilometer of the area. Although most of the population is overwhelmingly rural, over the last two decades the rural/urban exodus has caused a shift in that balance. The shift of human migration has posed problems regarding the state's resources, infrastructure, environmental sanitation, erosion control and social services. This increase in demand is especially evident in its huge commercial city of Onitsha. Pipe borne water, electricity and housing for the many residents of Onitsha are a challenge for many.

Anambra is rich in natural gas, crude oil, bauxite, ceramics and almost 100 percent arable soil. Most of its natural resources remain largely untapped.

Politics

The state governor from 2003 to 2006 was Dr. Chris Ngige, but he was removed in March 2006 when the Court of Appeal in Enugu asserted that his election victory in 2003 was rigged.^[3] He was succeeded by Peter Obi, who in turn was ousted by a faction of the Anambra State House of Assembly on November 2, 2006 and replaced by Virginia Etiaba.^[4] On February 9, 2007 Mrs. Etiaba handed power back to Obi after the Court of Appeal had nullified Obi's removal.^[5]

On June 14, 2007 the Supreme Court of Nigeria removed Mr Andy Uba from office and replaced him with his predecessor Peter Obi—citing an illegality in Andy Uba's election on April 14, 2007. [2]

History

Anambra possesses a history that stretches back to the 5th century AD, as revealed by archaeological excavations at Igbo-Ukwu and Ezira; these findings revealed a greater number of details on the ancient Kingdom of Nri, which held sway in the area of Anambra from c. 948 AD to 1911.

During the Nigerian/Biafran war, a relief airstrip, was constructed by Biafran Engineers in the town of Uli(code named "Annabelle"). Extremely dangerous relief flights took off from Sao Tome and other sites loaded with tons of food and medicine for the distressed Biafran population. Uli airstrip was the site were brave American pilots like Alex Nicoll, and scores of others, made the supreme sacrifice in the service of humanity, delivering tons of relief supplies to the Biafran population.^[6] Disgusted by the suffering and mounting death toll in Biafra from starvation as well as the continuous harassment of the relief planes by the Nigerian Airforce, Carl Gustaf Von Rosen resigned as a Red Cross relief pilot and helped Biafra to form an Airforce of five Minicoin planes malmo MFI-9 stationed at the Uga airstrip.He named his tiny but effective airforce "Babies of Biafra" in honour of the babies who died via starvation inside Biafra.

Old Anambra State was created in 1976 from part of East Central State, and its capital was Enugu. A further re-organisation in 1991 divided Anambra into two states, Anambra and Enugu. The capital of Anambra is Awka.

Cities and administrative divisions

The main towns of Anambra state are: Igbariam, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Abatete, Awka,Awka-Etiti,Achina,Agulu, Aguluezechukwu, Onitsha, Nnewi, Ogidi, Obosi, Ihiala, Amichi, Uga, Uli,Ubuluisiuzor, Abagana, Alor, Nsugbe, Atani, Nkpor, Eziowelle, Oba, Omor, Ichi, Ojoto, Oraifite, Ozubulu, Umuawulu, Umuoji, Umunachi, Umudioka, Unubi, Umunya, Umuleri, Utuh, Ogbunike, Aguleri, Ekwulobia, Igbo-ukwu, Ichida, Ora-Eri, Ihembosi Akwaukwu, Uke, Ukpo,Ifite - Dunu,Okija, Oko, Oraukwu, Osumenyi, Otu-ocha, Nnobi, Ideani, Adazi-Nnukwu, Adazi-Enu, Umuanaga, Adazi Ani, Nanka,Nimo, Nneni, Nnewi, Nmiata-Anam, Awkuzu, Ebenebe, Enugwu-Ukwu, Enugwu-Agidi, Umueze-anam, Nawfia, Amawbia, Agukwu, Nando, Nanka, Nnokwa, Amansea, Amanuke, Achalla, Mgbakwu, Ugbenu, Ugbenne,Umuchu,Umuomaku, Isuaniocha, Azia,Utuh, Akwaeze,Omogho,Amesi,Ebenator,Nibo,Mbaukwu,Nise,Achala,Ukpor.

There are 21 local government areas in the state:

Education and Infrastructure

Awka, the state capital, is also the center of Nigeria's metalwork and carving industries. Educationally, there are the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, the Anambra State University, formerly known as Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH), with two campuses, one in Uli, and another in Igbariam, the Federal Polytechnic in Oko, Nwafor Orizu University of Education, Nsugbe, formerly known as the Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe. Literacy rate in the state is comparatively high. Some of the more notable secondary schools include; St Charles' Special Science School (SCSSS), Onitsha, Christ the King college (C.K.C) Onitsha, Our Lady's High School, Onitsha; Comprehensive Secondary School Nawfia, Dennis Memorial Grammar School (D.M.G.S) Onitsha, Queen Of the Rosary College (Q.R.C.) Onitsha, St. Monica's College, Ogbunike, Igwebuike Grammar school, and Community Secondary School Igbariam. Primary and secondary school enrollment in the state is one of the highest in the country.^{[citation needed]} Consequently, Anambra state has the highest number of JAMB candidates going after the limited number of spaces in Nigeria's tertiary colleges.

References

External links

• Government of Anambra
• Satellite Map of Anambra State on Google Maps World Gazetteer

v • d • e LGAs and communities of Anambra State State capital: Awka LGAs Aguata · Awka North · Awka South · Anambra East · Anambra West · Anaocha · Ayamelum · Dunukofia · Ekwusigo · Idemili North · Idemili South · Ihiala · Njikoka · Nnewi North · Nnewi South · Ogbaru · Onitsha North · Onitsha South · Orumba North · Orumba South · Oyi

v • d • e States of Nigeria Abia · Abuja Federal Capital Territory · Adamawa · Akwa Ibom · Anambra · Bauchi · Bayelsa · Benue · Borno · Cross River · Delta · Ebonyi · Edo · Ekiti · Enugu · Gombe · Imo · Jigawa · Kaduna · Kano · Katsina · Kebbi · Kogi · Kwara · Lagos · Nasarawa · Niger · Ogun · Ondo · Osun · Oyo · Plateau · Rivers · Sokoto · Taraba · Yobe · Zamfara

Coordinates: 6°20′N 7°00′E / 6.333°N 7°E / 6.333; 7