Nigeria: background information

History

Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960, and from 1983 - 1999 was a military regime characterised by corruption and economic mismanagement. In 1999 a peaceful transition to a civilian government was completed with President Obasanjo taking the roles of both chief of state and head of Government.

Geography and economy

Children and women are the main collectors of water in the developing world.

Credit: WaterAid / Jim Holmes

Nigeria is a huge country with a diverse climate and terrain. It ranges from the equatorial climate of the southern lowlands, through the tropical central hills and plateau, to the arid northern plains which mark the southernmost extent of the Sahara desert.

The River Niger flows from the northwest through the country to its vast delta in the south.

Africa's most populous country, Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups, with English the official language, and three Nigerian languages (Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa) widely spoken. The country's population is 50% Muslim, 40% Christian and 10% following indigenous beliefs. Longstanding ethnic and religious tensions continue to hamper development.

Nigeria is endowed with rich natural resources, of which oil and gas have been the mainstay of the economy in the last few decades, providing 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues.

The capital intensive oil sector has dominated the economy and the new civilian administration is attempting diversification and substantial economic reform.

70% of the population are engaged in agricultural production, with cocoa, peanuts and palm oil being the main cash crops. However, the largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food.