Nigeria area: | 923,770sq km (356,668sq mi) |
population: | 105,000,000 |
capital (population): | Abuja (350,000) |
government: | Federal republic |
ethnic groups: | Hausa 21%, Yoruba 21%, Ibo (or Igbo) 19%, Fulani 11%, Ibibio 6% |
languages: | English (official) |
religions: | Christianity (Protestant 26%, Roman Catholic 12%, others 11%), Islam 45% |
currency: | Naira = 100 kobo |
Republic in
w Africa. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa. It has a sandy coastline, fringed by a belt of mangrove swamps and lagoons, which includes the former capital,
Lagos. The
Niger and Benue rivers meet in central Nigeria, and run
s into the Niger Delta, where Benin City is situated. North of the coastal lowlands is a hilly region of rainforest and savanna. At the foot of the great plateau of Nigeria lies the city of
Ibadan. The plateau is a region of high wooded and savanna plains, and includes the capital,
Abuja. In the extreme
ne lies the Lake
Chad basin. In the
nw lies the Sokoto plains. The Adamawa Highlands extend along the
se border with Cameroon, and contain Nigeria's highest point, at 2042m (6699ft).
Climate and Vegetation
Lagos has a tropical climate, with high temperatures and rain throughout the year. The
n is drier and often hotter than the
s, though the highlands are cooler.
Kano in
n central Nigeria has a marked dry season from October to April. Behind the coastal swamps are rainforests, although farmers have cleared large areas. The plateau contains large areas of tropical savanna with forested river valleys. Open grassland and semi-arid scrub occur in drier areas. To the
n lie the dry grasslands of the
Sahel.
History and Politics
Excavations around the Nigerian village of Nok have uncovered some of the oldest and most beautiful examples of African sculpture. The Nok civilization flourished between 500 bc and ad 200. In the 11th century, the Kanem-Bornu kingdom extended
s from Lake Chad into Nigeria, and the
Hausa established several city-states. In
sw Nigeria, the state of
Benin and the
Yoruba kingdom of Oyo flourished in the 15th century. They produced superb brass, bronze and ivory sculptures. The
Songhai Empire dominated
n Nigeria in the early 16th century.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach the Nigerian coast, and they established trading links with Benin in the late 15th century. Nigeria became a centre of the slave trade, with major European powers competing for control. The
Igbo established city-states built on the wealth of the trade. In the early 19th century, the
Fulani captured many of the Hausa city-states. Sokoto retained its independence. The
sw began a protracted civil war. In 1807, Britain renounced the slave trade, but other countries continued the practice. In 1861, Britain seized Lagos, ostensibly to stop the trade. By 1885, Britain controlled all of
s Nigeria and gradually extended northwards. By 1906, Britain had conquered all of Nigeria, and divided the country into the Colony (Lagos) and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria. The two merged in 1914, and Britain ruled indirectly through colonial officials and local rulers. Cities, infrastructure and industries developed. In 1954, Nigeria federated into three regions (
n,
e, and
w) plus the territory of Lagos. In 1960, Nigeria gained independence. It became a republic in 1963. The division of Nigeria into 30 states reflected the fact that it contains more than 250 ethnic and language groups, and several religious ones. In 1966, Igbo army officers staged a successful coup, but a Hausa-led coup quickly toppled the regime. In 1967, the Igbo, increasingly concerned for their safety within the federation, formed the independent republic of
Biafra. For the next three years, civil war raged before Biafra finally capitulated.
The early 1970s were more peaceful. Nigeria expanded its oil industry and joined OPEC in 1971. Oil revenue created widespread government corruption and widened the wealth gap. Drought in the
Sahel killed much livestock and led to mass migration to the
s. After several military coups, civilian rule briefly returned in 1979. Following 1983 elections, the military seized power again. Between 1960 and 1996, Nigeria enjoyed only nine years of civilian government. The military government declared the 1993 presidential elections, won by Chief Moshood Abiola, invalid. The army commander in chief, General Sanni Abacha, gained power. In 1994, nationwide demonstrations prompted Abiola to form a rival government, but he was swiftly arrested. In 1995 Abacha received an open-ended term in office, vowing to restore civilian rule by 1998. His regime was criticized for human rights abuses and the suppression of opposition. After the execution of nine activists, Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations (1995–99).
In 1998, Abacha died and General Abubakar succeeded. In July 1998, Abiola's death in prison prompted widespread rioting. In 1999 elections, General Olusegun Obasanjo, a former military ruler (1976–79) of Nigeria, became president. In 2000, the adoption of Islamic Sharia law by some of Nigeria's
n states led to violent clashes between Muslims and Christians.
Economy
Nigeria is a low income developing country, with great economic potential (2000 GDP per capita, US$950). Corruption is an endemic problem. Nigeria is the world's eleventh-largest producer of crude oil, which accounts for 95% of its exports. Agriculture employs 43% of the workforce. It is the world's third-largest producer of palm oil and palm kernels, fourth-largest producer of groundnuts, sixth-largest producer of cocoa, and seventh-largest producer of rubber. Cattle rearing is important in the
n grasslands, while fishing is a major activity in the
s. Manufacturing is diversifying. Products include chemicals and clothing. Nigeria has oil refineries, vehicle assembly plants, and steel mills.
Political map
Physical map
Websites
http://www.nopa.net
