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Nigeria
Area: 923,768 sq km (356,700 sq mi)
Population: 140 million (2005 census)
Capital City: Abuja (6 m)
Other Major Cities: Lagos ( 15 m), Ibadan (5 m), at least 8 other cities with a population of over 1 million
People: Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw and some 250 ethno-linguistic groups
Language(s): English (official) but Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo are also used in the National Assembly
Religion(s): Muslim,(50%), Christian (40%), traditional (10%)
Currency: Naira (N)
Major political parties: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress (AC) )
Head of State: President Umaru Yar'Adua inaugurated 29 May 2007
Vice-President: Jonathan Goodluck
Foreign Minister: vacant awaiting Cabinet appointments
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations (UN), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU), Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Commonwealth, African Development Bank (ADB)
GEOGRAPHYNigeria is located in West Africa, bordered by Benin to the west, Niger to the north, Cameroon to the east and the Atlantic Ocean. The terrain varies from coastal swamps and tropical forest in the south, to savannah and semi-desert in the north. The highest points are the Jos Plateau in the centre (1200-2000 metres above sea level) and the mountains along the eastern border. The river Niger, the third longest river in Africa, reaches the sea through an extensive Delta of mangrove swamps.
HISTORYNigeria was a British colonial creation. It came into being in January 1914 with the amalgamation of the Colony of Lagos (first annexed in 1861), the Southern Protectorates (established 1885 – 1894) and the Northern Protectorate (pacified by 1903). Hitherto, the British had administered them as separate but related territories. Local involvement in government was introduced as early as 1922 when southern politicians, from Lagos and Calabar, took seats in the central legislative assembly. Their northern counterparts did not have legislative experience until 1947 when a new constitution introduced the principle of regional representation. The 1954 constitution created fully-fledged regional governments, and federal elections were held in 1959 the year before independence.
Nigeria was granted its independence on 1 October 1960, originally with Dominion status. In 1963, Nigeria broke its direct links with the British Crown, and became a Republic within the Commonwealth. The independence constitution provided for a federation of three autonomous regions - Northern, Western and Eastern - each with wide-ranging powers, its own constitution, public service, and marketing boards. The overarching but weaker federal government had powers limited to national issues, including control of the police and army, and economic planning. The political system was derived from the Westminster model. A fourth region – the Mid-West – was created in 1964 to satisfy the demand of the minorities.
In the early 1960s, the inherited regional structure led to a series of crises and conflicts , both within and between the three ethno-centric regions, as competition grew for control over the federal centre. The 1964 federal elections were marred by violence and rigging. Inter-party and inter-ethnic tensions continued leading ultimately to a military takeover in January 1966, led by Igbo officers. Thereafter Nigeria's post-independence history was marked by a series of military interventions in politics: coups, counter-coups, and a civil war (1967-70) when the Eastern Region attempted to secede as the Republic of Biafra. Over 1 million died in the conflict. Nigeria has only enjoyed three short periods of civilian rule – 1960-65, 1979-83, and 1999 to the present. The intervening periods, totalling 29 years, saw military governments in place.
In an attempt to break up the power of the regions, and forestall future conflict, the regional structure was dismantled in 1967, and replaced by 12 states. At the same time, the federal centre took back most of the powers to itself, and a new radical revenue sharing formula was established which deprived the new states of most of their derivation funds. Additional states were later created in phases in response to demands from powerful local interest groups – in 1976 the number rose to 19, in 1989 to 21, in 1991 to 30, and in 1996 to 36. No new states have been created since then although pressures for new states are ever present. A new Federal Capital Territory, at Abuja in the centre of the country, was created in 1976 but it was not fully operational until the mid-1990s.
POLITICSNigeria operates an Executive Presidential system of government. This American-style model was first introduced in 1979, during the last period of civilian rule, and retained on the return to civilian rule in 1999. It replaced the Westminster system which had been inherited at independence. The federal bi-cameral legislature comprises a Senate with 109 elected members and a 360-member House of Representatives. Each of the 36 States has an elected Governor and an elected State Assembly of between 24 and 40 seats depending on the size of the population. All elected offices have a four-year tenure. The third tier comprises 774 Local Government Areas. There is a two-term constitutional limit on the tenure of the President and the State Governors.
Nigeria is a multi-party state. Nearly 50 political parties are officially registered but only three, the ruling PDP, the ANPP and the AC have electoral strength. The PDP is the largest party with a national spread, the ANPP is strongest in the north, while the AC is a new mega-opposition alliance with support across the country. The 1999 elections, which returned Nigeria to civilian rule, brought retired General Obasanjo to power with 62% of the vote. He was returned in 2003 with a similar mandate. The PDP won 21 State Governorships in 1999, but took control of 28 States in 2003.
The 2007 elections, held in April 2007, were heavily criticised by foreign and domestic observer groups for poor organisation and large-scale rigging. The PDP , and its Presidential candidate, Umaru Yar'Adua, were returned with large majorities. A number of legal challenges to the declared results have been mounted in the Courts.
HUMAN RIGHTSNigeria's human rights situation has improved since the return to civilian rule, although Nigeria still retains the death penalty. The Obasanjo government set up a panel, the Oputa Panel, to investigate human rights abuses during military rule. His government also established a National Human Rights Commission. Nigeria has a large and active civil society and a free and vibrant press. Human rights abuses still occur, largely at the hands of the ill-trained security forces. The use of torture, beatings and extra-judicial killings are still reported. In carrying out security operations, the Army has committed serious abuses of human rights – notably in Bayelsa State in 1999 when 1000 were killed, and in Benue State in 2001 when 200 civilians were killed.
The introduction of the Sharia penal code in 12 northern, largely Muslim, states in 1999, provoked tensions between Moslems and Christians. Outbreaks of violence in Kano in 2000 and Kaduna in 2002 left several thousand dead. Hudud punishments meted out by Sharia courts have caused international disquiet. Amputations have taken place, but so far no sentences of death-by-stoning have been carried out.
In January 2003, the first UK/Nigeria human rights dialogue took place in Abuja. In 2004, the UK and Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in persons.
ECONOMYBasic Economic FactsGDP: US\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$89.9 bn (2005)
GDP per head: US\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$ 640 (estimate 2005)
Annual Growth: 6.2% (2005)
Inflation:10% (2005)
Major Industries: Oil, Gas as LNG
Major trading partners: US, China, , Brazil, EU, UK
Exchange rate: £1 = N250 (April 2005)
Nigeria's economy is highly dependent on the oil/gas sector. Oil accounts for 95% of exports by value and 80% of government revenue. With a current output of 2.3 m bpd, set to rise to 4 m bpd by 2010, Nigeria is the world's 8th largest exporter of oil. Some \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$15 billion is expected to be invested in further exploration over the next 5 years. Since 1999, Nigeria is also a producer of LNG (Liquified Natural Gas). Current output, at 10m tonnes, is set to quadruple to 40m tonnes by 2010, with the commission of 2 further plants. .With the largest known gas reserves in sub-Saharan Africa, revenue from LNG is expected to surpass that from oil in the next decade. By 2009 Nigeria is set to earn US\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$12 bn pa from LNG.. Gas flaring, which in 2001 represented a quarter of the world's flaring, is set to cease by 2008. However, the oil-producing region, the Niger Delta, is volatile. There are frequent inter-communal clashes, oil company facilities are regularly targeted, the region is awash with arms, there has been a rise in criminality with hostage-taking, while oil theft, or "bunkering", has increased dramatically in the last 6 years.
All other sectors of the economy have been in relative decline in recent decades even though there is potential to revive the once thriving agricultural sector and to develop solid minerals. Infrastructure is weak, deterring investment. Nigeria does not have a formal programme with the IMF.although its progress is monitored through a new instrument, the PSI.(Policy Support Instrument). In May 2004, the government launched its own home-grown economic reform programme, NEEDS, (National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy) and related reforms. Key components include sound macro-economic policies, fiscal discipline, the introduction of due process in public procurement, reforms in the civil service, government institutions and the banking system, privatisation and transparency especially in the oil sector. Monthly budget allocations to the three tiers of government are now published. Anti-corruption measures have also been put in place. The reform package is intended to reverse the past imprudent policies and stimulate the non-oil sector. A Fiscal Responsibility Bill awaits approval by the National Assembly. Capacity constraints and a weak statistical system for policy formation still need to be addressed if NEEDS is to meet its objectives. Nigeria undertook a census in 2005, the first since 1991 which recorded a population of over 140 million.
DEVELOPMENTIn spite of Nigeria's oil wealth, Nigeria is a poor country. The World Bank classifies it as a low income country. Its very large population, together with endemic corruption, long periods of military misrule and the longterm mismanagement of resources has meant that Nigeria's socio-economic indicators are low and worsening. Nigeria ranked 151 (out of 177) in the Human Development Index in 2002 and dropped further to 158 in 2005.. It is among the 20 poorest in the world in terms of per capita income. In 1985, 43% of the population lived below the poverty line. By 2004, that had risen to 70% living on less than one dollar per day. Nigeria has not been an aid-dependent country but it has accumulated a large external debt of some \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$36bn, the largest in Africa, owed mostly to the Paris Club. As an oil producer, Nigeria does not qualify for debt relief under the HIPC (Highly Indebted Poor Countries) scheme. However, after 6 years of lobbying, a debt deal was negotiated with the Paris Club in which 60% of Nigeria's debt was cancelled in exchange for using part of its OIL windfall money to immediately pay creditors the balance, some US\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$12.4 billion.
United Nations Development Programme World BankThe UK bilateral assistance programme is small but rising. At £43m in 2004/5, it rose to £70m in 2005/6, and is set to rise to £100m in 2006/7. DFID's assistance is concentrated in these main areas - support for NEEDS to stimulate pro-poor growth, action to tackle corruption and improve service delivery, and a renewed focus on human development, including assistance to combat the spread of HIV-AIDS. DFID also funded preparations for the 2007 elections.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSNigeria is the predominant power in West Africa. It was instrumental in the creation of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) in 1975. Under the ECOWAS umbrella, Nigeria has taken the lead in conflict resolution in several West African civil wars, putting troops into Liberia (twice) and Sierra Leone. Nigeria has also played an important role in other conflicts, most recently in Sudan, Sao Tome, and Cote d'Ivoire. On the wider African stage, President Obasanjo is a founder of the New African Partnership for Development, NEPAD, the AU's flagship development blueprint. President Obasanjo held the Chair of the AU for 2005/06. Nigeria aspires to a permanent seat on a reformed UN Security Council.
African Union The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) ECOWASNigeria's long-running territorial dispute with Cameroon over the common border was finally settled when the ICJ ruled in October 2002. Minor adjustments were made along the whole length of the border, and some villages have been transferred as a result. The key judgement concerned the Bakassi peninsula. The ICJ awarded sovereignty to Cameroon but made pragmatic provision for ownership of the oil fields in the maritime sector. The modalities of the transfer of Bakassi were worked out in a Mixed Commission under UN aegis. Nigerian troops finally withdrew from Bakassi in August 2006.
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