GOVERNOR - DIRECTOR The war ended 50 years ago on 15th January 1970 when Ojukwu fled the country. The movement for the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) is not entirely new to most Nigerians and especially those in the eastern part of the country. Such a unilateral inflationary decision could damage the economy of the component parts. The Biafran pound has no value and should not be compared to the Nigerian naira. The banknotes have various back designs. The postage stamps were reportedly released on 5 February 1968 (which varies by a week from the date announced by Ojukwu of 29 January) and it would not be difficult to conjecture that the postage stamps and the bank notes were printed by the same printer for release at the same time. In an effort to take firm control of the country, General Ironsi was appointed by the Nigerian cabinet to head a federal military government. The news site posted the report, " World Bank set to established Central Bank of Biafra in Abia State," on its Facebook page on 30 March 2019. Furthermore, no country in the world accepts the Biafran Pound as a currency because it is not one of the180 currenciesrecognized as legal tender by the United Nations. Comments made in a speech by General Ojukwu in February 1969 (a year after the events), reflect the public despair that was expressed at the Nigerian decree (although Ojukwu himself could not have been surprised): The government has long been aware of the terrible experiences of our people over the issue of currency. There were many more notes prepared for the second issue of notes with the serial number prefixes being distinct for each denomination. 168. MASSOB property is brazenly breached and destroyed by the these brutal operatives. The National Political Reform Conference arranged, funded (illegally) and teleguided by Obasanjo himself, is about to wind up, pretending that it has been successful, although the fragmentation of interests along ethnic and regional lines is the most visible outcome--not surprisingly. Given this atmosphere, one could imagine what a shock and a blow it was to Obasanjo that lo and behold, the Biafran currency is still in circulation in parts of some West African countries, and by one account, in a community in New York also. The 5 shillings depicts four Biafran girls while the 1 pound shows the coat of arms. fty thousand. Pro-Biafra militants have in turn killed scores of security and government officials, as well as civilians, in armed operations that have grown more frequent and daring. ss. The back of the 5-shilling note is very similar to the first issue, with the picture of the four Ibo girls and the manilla being used in the same manner. Its territory consisted of the predominantly Igbo-populated Eastern Region of Nigeria. The first stamps of Biafra were issued on 5 February 1968. Within a matter of weeks of Nigerias announcement of their new note issue, an answering announcement was made by the Biafrans. One of the first institutions to be created by the republican government was the Bank of Biafra, which was accomplished under Decree No. However the Alo makes its reappearance on the back of the 5-pound note, this time having a white disc with the coat of arms laying over its shaft. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said that emerging nations of Biafra, Ambazonia and Oduduwa have concluded plans to conduct a one million-man march at European Union headquarters in . We had to arrange and conclude the exercise in a hurry. Ultimately the speculator! The Euro is the only currency in use in Italy. Pick Publishing Corporation (1971) Picks Currency Year Book 1970, New York. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. WHOLESALE 100 CIRCULATED NIGERIA 1 (ONE POUND) CATALOG # 8 of 1967 BIAFRA WAR, Great Historic Banknotes BIAFRA 1 POUND 1968 - 1969 P-5 UNC Lucky # DS0193333, BIAFRA 1 POUND P-2 1967 10 Pcs Lot RISING SUN Bundle CURRENCY NIGERIA BANK NOTE, Biafra, 1 pound, 1968, P-5, UNC, world paper money, banknote. Opinion: Why young Africans need to know their history. Learn how. five shillings. The back of the 1-pound note carries the Biafran coat of arms above a wreath (constructed of two sprigs of unidentified leaves), and a ceremonial spear behind the disc in which the value of the note is held. While this amount may seem large, it must be remembered that Biafra had a population of 14 million, and the amount in circulation would equate to 10 per person at the most optimistic estimate. The currency of the breakaway Republic of Biafra between 1968 and 1970 was Biafran pound. Hank Wharton was an American transport operator who had come to an arrangement with the Biafrans to fly arms twice weekly from Lisbon (Portugal) to Biafra. 1 pound (B102a, P2) Worth: $2.50 - $10.00. By that same decree, Nigeria currency notes will cease to be legal tender in Biafra. The reports indicate that Rothschild was prepared to pay twelve shillings and sixpence in British currency for each Nigerian pound. Although Biafra had made a concerted effort to produce the second series of higher quality bank notes, it would appear that their circulation was limited. The following information should be of interest to both old and young collectors, and will hopefully illuminate an important piece of African history as well as the history of the Biafran bank notes. C $272.87. The Republic of Biafra existed between 1967 and 1970 before it surrendered to the Federal Military Government of Nigeria. However, matters became critical in January 1966 when a number of junior army officers attempted a coup. It turned out, however, to be false information. The Republic of Biafra was formerly declared a sovereign nation in 1966 by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria). Refine Results . 1967 (ND), BIAFRA 1 POUND BANKNOTE, CIRCULATED. C $4.02. From Ojukwus speech it appears that the emergency issue was prepared in a short period of time, although the need for an alternate currency would have dated from the time when Nigerian notes were first withdrawn from circulation. Two days ago United Nations gave World bank order to start printing new Biafra currency. 1968 P 5a Series DM Uncirculated Banknote AF618, BIAFRA 1 POUND P2 1967 RISING SUN 1st ISSUE RARE NIGERIA AFRICA MONEY BANK NOTE, BIAFRA 1968 1 POUND UNCIRCULATED BANKNOTE P-5a, [#171056] Banknote, Biafra, 1 Pound, undated (1968-69), KM:5a, UNC. Many collectors will be familiar with the events of the Nigerian civil war, and equally there will be many younger collectors who have little or no memory of the events. On the back of the 5-shilling note is a picture of four Ibo girls, and surrounding the value of the note to the left is a manilla. This may have been one of the reasons why so many Biafran notes remained in Europe undelivered they were a cargo that could bring little practical purpose. Currency itself seems to have been a subject close to Ojukwu (or one of his advisers), as we find the following clause in instructions sent to the delegates of the Eastern Region who were negotiating with Nigeria prior to secession. The banknotes have various back designs. In an effort to curb the flow, the federal government issued a decree in June stating that Nigerian currency exported from Nigeria (including the rebel held Eastern Region) after 21 August 1967, would not be redeemed by the Nigerian Government. These were printed in Portugal, as were the initial series of bank notes. Description Biafra Bank of Biafra 1 Pound ND (1967) Pick 2 PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ; Angola Banco de Angola 20 Escudos 1956 Pick 87 PMG Choice About Unc 58; Mozambique Banco de Mocambique 100 Escudos 1961 (ND 1976) pick 117a PMG Gem Uncirulated 66 EPQ. In addition, the depiction of a single palm tree had been the dominant feature on the bank notes of the West African Currency Board from 1916 to 1951, and gave a visual reminder of the notes of that era. Biafra digital currency is coming to save the situation ASAP but for now, follow the instructions. An article on the website Jamyco claims the World Bank has invited Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, to put his name on a new currency for Biafra. Has a politician, a business or union leader, a health association or environmental group said something that you suspect is untrue or misleading and that should be challenged? Akpan, Ntieyong U. (Biafra transferred its capital several times to avoid capture by advancing Nigerian forces). The notes were reported to be on transfer from the Banque Populaire Suisse in Basle to a bank in Ibadan (in Nigeria), but were handed over to the Nigerian government by the Togolese authorities. Now, the United States is the latest to signal "urgency" in researching a potential digital version of its dollar via a Central Bank Digital Currency, or CBDC. The notes have a palm tree and a big rising sun on their obverse design. Beresiner, Yasha & Narbeth, Colin (1973) The Story of Paper Money, David & Charles, Newton Abbot. Numista type number (https://en.numista.com/help/what-is-the-n-number-visible-in-the-catalogue-33.html). Whatever the exact date of issue, the quote above does show that, following Nigerias announcement of their new note issue, Biafra continued to collect as many Nigerian notes as possible before the notes could no longer be redeemed. It was only been used by the igbo's and people who exchanged it at the rate you claimed were boarder town fools who were only hoarding it believing that one day, Biafra will exist. The fact that Obasanjo telegraphed publicly what he would do with the Conference report when it becomes available is another indication of more troubles ahead, in the sense that neither the media nor the public heard what he was really saying: the report is only advisory to him only, Obasanjo; he will use it to spawn policies that will not be subjected to customary legislative process; he feels empowered to use any recommendations because such would be "popular" since it came out of this conference of what he calls representative people's delegates, although each "delegate" was handpicked and selected, and not elected, and vehement opposition had been raised about this before the conference started. The Bahamas is the first country in the world with a central bank digital currency (a digital form of a country's currency). Perhaps, this was what made the video to . To all Nigerians, Please ignore the news that the Biafran Pound has been approved in Italy. We cannot investigate every claim sent to us. (This occurrence being due to insufficient Biafran notes being delivered to replace the Nigerian currency, which had been extracted from circulation.). It was generally reported that the notes were being sold at discounts! Easterners holding Biafran Pounds, the currency adopted by the region when it declared . The name given to the new state was The Republic of Biafra, the republic taking its name from the Bight of Biafra, on which it had its coast. Consequently there were three currencies circulating in Nigeria new Nigerian notes in the West and North, Biafran notes in the areas controlled by the rebels and old Nigerian notes in those areas of the East which had been liberated by the Nigerians. The flag of the former Republic of Biafra is a horizontal tricolour of red, black, and green, with a golden rising sun over a golden bar in the middle. News. You can also ask Ihieagwa people in imo state its Ojomma. The Times newspaper London, United Kingdom, (The references in brackets refer to the page number and column location of the relevant article. World Bank-approved administrative boundaries (Admin 0) (and polygons . Yes my grand parents and my Ikwuano people called it Ojomma and not Ejemma. The currency adopted by the Biafrans its capital several times to avoid capture by advancing Nigerian forces ) issued. 15Th January 1970 when Ojukwu fled the country that the notes have a palm and... 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