Interrogating Economic Re-Birth and Economic Integration of the Southeast States of Nigeria: Problems and Prospects

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What is now known as the Southeast region of Nigeria emerged as an outcome of the National Constitutional Conference convened by the late Nigeria Military leader, General Sani Abacha’s administration, and held from June 1994 to June 1995. The Southeast region is currently home to five core-Igbo-speaking states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. These five states were major parts of the old Eastern Region of Nigeria, which witnessed sustained growth in diverse sectors of its economy before the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. Specifically, from the mid-1950s, small, medium and large scale industries had sprouted up in many parts of the region, particularly in the major towns of Aba, Enugu, Umuahia and Onitsha (mostly inhabited by the Igbo). The Golden Guinea Breweries located in Aba; the Cement Company located at Nkalagu, near Enugu; and many other enterprises (mainly private sector-driven) had commenced manufacturing of goods, as trade and services flourished, but the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil war in July 1967 aborted the visible economic growth in Igboland. However, although the Igbo (who lost the war) were “reintegrated into Nigeria” when the war ended in January 1970, they have found it very difficult till date to recreate their glorious economic past. Since 1970, most Igbo-owned industries, investments and firms are located in areas outside Igboland, which has impacted negatively on the economic growth of the region. It is against this background that this paper interrogates the question of economic rebirth and economic integration of the southeast region of Nigeria. Adopting the eclectic research method, it highlights the problems inhibiting the trend, examines the prospects, and proffers solutions, which, if implemented, could lead to the economic resurgence and integration of states in the Southeast region of Nigeria by 2030.