On May 27, 1967, General Yakubu Gowon, head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria, created three states from the Eastern Region of the country. Separation of the region, undertaken to achieve better regional and ethic balance, caused Lieutenant Colonel E.O. Ojukwu, Military Governor of the eastern Region, to proclaim on May 30, 1967, the independence of the Eastern Region as the ?Republic of Biafra.? Fighting broke out between the Federal Military Government and the forces of Lieutenant Colonel Ojukwu and continued until Biafra surrendered on January 15, 1970. Biafra was then reintegrated into the Republic of Nigeria as three states: East-Central, Rivers, and South-Eastern. For additional history, see Nigeria.,,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Shilling = 12 Pence,, ,1 Pound = 20 Shillings,,