When the Nigerian Civil War ended, the number of dead in the former Eastern Region from hostilities, disease, and starvation during the 30-month civil war was estimated at between one million and three million.1 The end of the fighting found more than three million Igbo refugees crowded into a 2,500 square-kilometre enclave. Prospects for the survival of many of them and for the future of the region were dim. There were severe shortages of food, medicine, clothing, and housing. The economy of the former Eastern Region was shattered. There was widespread destruction of infrastructure with extensive damages to cities, roads, bridges, power plants, and schools, hospitals, utilities, and transportation facilities were destroyed or inoperative.