Nigeria Location:
Physical. Nigeria is located in Western Africa and spans an area more than twice the size of California. The climate varies from equatorial in the south, tropical in the center, and arid in the north. Its terrain consists mainly of southern lowlands, which merge into central hills and plateaus. There are mountains in the southeast, and plains in the north. Natural resources include natural gas, petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, and arable land.
Nigeria Geography:
Geography
Area: 356,669 square miles
Capital: Abuja (pop 420,000)
Environmental concerns: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; drought
Geographical features: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus with mountains in the southeast and plains in the north
Climate: ranges from equatorial to arid
Nigeria People:
People. Almost 130 million people live in Nigeria. Although English is the official language, inhabitants also speak Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, and Fulani. Nigeria is comprised of more than 250 ethnic groups including Hausa, and Yoruba (21% each) Fulani (9%) and Ibo (18%). Three major religious practices govern much of the active spiritual communities: Muslim (50%) Christian (40%) and indigenous beliefs (10%).
129,935,000 people; Hausa (21%); Yoruba (21%); Ibo (18%); Fulani (9%)
Annual growth rate: 2.54%
Major languages are English; Hausa; Yoruba; Ibo; Fulani
Religions: Muslim (50%); Christian (40%); indigenous beliefs (10%)
Nigeria Government:
Government. Following his election in February, 1999 as Nigeria’s first civilian president in 15 years, President Olusegun Obasanjo has pushed forward New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and the Nigerian government has been playing a leading role in attempts to bring peace to West Africa. However it has reneged on abiding by the International Court of Justice decision concerning its border dispute with Cameroon.
Internally Obasanjo has struggled in governing the diverse communities that make up Nigeria. Ethnic and religious tension and corruption continue to plague Nigeria. The Transparency International rates Nigeria the second most corrupt country. Christian-Muslim violence was severe in 2000 and 2001 when ethnic fighting between the Tiv people and smaller ethnic groups caused death and significant internal displacement.
Nigeria is a republic in transition from military rule with independence first gained from the United Kingdom on October 1, 1960
President Olusegun Obasanjo is both head of state and government
3 major political parties
Universal suffrage at 18
Nigeria Communication:
Communication and transportation
500,000 main telephone lines
750,000 Internet users (2003)
120,524 miles of highway (much barely usable)
2,226 miles of railroad
70 airfields
954,000 motor vehicles
Nigeria Economy:
Economy. Nigeria’s hard-working population has developed one of Africa’s largest economies. But per-capita income is still only $840 per year. This is average for impoverished economies but down from $1500, the estimated income for Nigeria in 1980. Much of Nigeria’s wealth came from oil, but oil earnings have plummeted in the last ten years. Hydrocarbons account for about 90% of export earnings and 75% of government revenue, but current contribution to the total GDP is now down to20%.
Nigeria’s human resources (found in its population of more than 130 million) may yet be mobilized despite the extremes in inequality between the rich and the poor. To encourage labor-intensive production and self-sustaining agriculture, recent bans on food imports and restrictions on raw materials were imposed. It is hoped these measures will increase local production and encourage research and local input for industry.
Currency: nairas
Per capita GDP: $840
GDP: $ 106 billion
GDP growth rate: 3.5%
Inflation rate: 15%
Labor force: 70% agriculture; 20% services; 10% industry
Nigeria Opportunity
Nigeria More Information:
www.nigeria.com
www.nigeria.indymedia.org
www.sas.upenn.edu
www.nigeriatoday.com
www.nigeriadaily.com
www.africanews.org | 
