Calabar is a city in south eastern Nigeria. The City is watered by the Calabar and Great Qua rivers and creeks of the Cross River (from its inland Delta). It is the capital of Cross River State.

The city, which has been inhabited for 2000 years, has been known to European Sailors as far back as the 15th century and was recognised as an international sea port since the 16th century. Calabar was a major slave trade port from the late 17th to 19th centuries.

The city once served as the seat of Government of the Niger Coast Protectorate, Southern Protectorate and Oil River Protectorate (effectively the headquarters of modern day Nigeria). Due to her early role in international trade and colonial administration, Calabar hosts the earliest Military barracks, the first presbyterian church (Church of Scotland Mission) in 1846, the first monorail and the first modern road network in Nigeria. The city also boasts of the first public (General) Hospital in Nigeria – St. Margaret Hospital, the oldest post office and one of the first two botanical gardens in the country.

As a social centre the city boasts of the first social club in Nigeria – The Africa Club and also hosted the first competitive football, cricket and field hockey games in Nigeria. Among the city's firsts include the first Roman Catholic Mass (held at 19 Boco Street, Calabar - 1903) and the oldest secondary school (Hope Waddell Training Institute - 1895) in eastern Nigeria. The School later produced the first Nigerian President Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. Prominent figures in the history of Calabar include King Archibong III - the first king in southern Nigeria to be crowned with regalia sent by Queen Victoria of England in 1878. Others include Professor Eyo Ita - the first Nigerian Professor, Sir Louis Edet - First Nigerian Inspector General of Police, Mrs. Margaret Ekpo - first woman Special member in Nigeria's Eastern House of Chiefs and later Eastern House of Assembly, Hogan Kid Bassey - first Nigeria's World Boxing Champion and Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo - premier football administrator, first and only Nigerian so far to be elected into Executive Committee of FIFA (1980 – 1988) and the first African to be made an Honorary Vice president of Confederation of African Football (CAF) (from 1988 for life).

Modern Calabar is reputed to be the cleanest city, and number one tourist destination, in Nigeria. The city boasts of an International Museum, botanical garden, Free Trade Zone/Port, International Airport and Seaport, and integrated sports stadium complex, a cultural centre, one of the most prominent univerisities in the country, University of Calabar, a slave history park and several historical and cultural landmarks. The city christened cannaan city as clean and well laid out streets adorned on both sides by trees and flowers and boasts of several standard hotels, resorts and amusement parks. By 2006 the city hopes to commission Africa's Premier Business resort christened TINAPA City. The former Liberian warlord Charles Ghankay Taylor lived in the old colonial palace in the city under an agreement which led to the end of his country's civil war before fleeing extradition to Liberia in March 2006.

See also

• Calabar bean

External links

• www.crossriverstate.com
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Cities in Nigeria | Nigerian state capitals | Port cities | Coastal cities

Calabar | Calabar | Calabar | Calabar (miasto)