If you’ve ever talked about Enugu, whether the state or the capital city itself, one phrase invariably follows its name. It’s a moniker that speaks to its history, its industrial legacy, and the very foundation upon which the city was built.

The universally recognized nickname for both Enugu State and its capital city is:

The Coal City

This is more than just a catchy phrase; it’s a direct reference to the pivotal event that created the modern city and transformed the entire region.

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Why is Enugu called “The Coal City”?

The nickname is a tribute to the city’s colonial origins and its role as the birthplace of industrial activity in Eastern Nigeria.

Enugu is also nicknamed 042

1. The Discovery of Black Gold

In 1909, a British geologist named Albert Ernest Kitson discovered large, commercially viable deposits of coal in the Udi Ridge, an area near the present-day city. This discovery was a game-changer.

2. The Birth of a City

The discovery prompted the British colonial administration to build the Eastern Line railway, connecting the inland coal deposits to the new deep-sea port built specifically for this purpose: Port Harcourt. The settlement that sprang up around the mining operation at the foot of the Udi hills was initially called Enugu Coal Camp.

Essentially, the modern city of Enugu was created solely to exploit and manage the coal reserves.

3. An Industrial Pillar

Throughout the colonial era and into the first decades of Nigeria’s independence, the coal mines (such as the famed Iva Valley and Onyeama mines) were the economic engine of the Eastern Region, employing thousands and earning Enugu its famous “Coal City” title. Even though significant coal production has ceased today, the nickname endures as a proud reminder of its foundational past.

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Other Historical Names

While “The Coal City” is the official nickname, Enugu has other historical or cultural identifiers that are also worth noting:

• “Top of the Hill”: Interestingly, the Igbo name Énú Ụ́gwụ́ (which became “Enugu”) literally means “top of the hill.” This refers to the hilly topography of the area, though the main urban center was developed at the foot of the Udi Plateau where the coal was found.
• “Capital of Igboland”: Due to its historical significance as the administrative capital of the former Eastern Region, and its brief service as the capital of the defunct Republic of Biafra (1967), Enugu is sometimes revered as the cultural or political “Capital of Igboland” by many Igbos.