Information AboutNigeria |
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|native_name = Federal Republic of Nigeria |common_name = Nigeria |image_flag = Flag of Nigeria.svg |image_coat = Nigeriaarms22.PNG |image_map = LocationNigeria.png |national_motto = Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress |national_anthem = Arise O Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey |official_languages = English |capital = Abuja |latd=9 |latm=10 |latNS=N |longd=7 |longm=10 |longEW=E |largest_city = Lagos |government_type = Federal Republic |leader_titles = President Vice-President |leader_names = Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ Atiku Abubakar |area_rank = 31st |area_magnitude = 1_E11 |area= 923,768 |areami&2= 356,667 |percent_water = 1.4% |population_estimate = 131,530,000 1 |population_estimate_rank = 9th |population_estimate_year = 2005 |population_census = 88,992,220 |population_census_year = 1991 |population_density = 142 |population_densitymi&2 =369 |population_density_rank = 53rd |GDP_PPP = $132.1 billion |GDP_PPP_rank = 55th |GDP_PPP_year= 2005 |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,000 |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 213th |sovereignty_type = Independence |established_events = From United Kingdom |established_dates = October 1 , 1960 |HDI = 0.453 |HDI_rank = 158th |HDI_year = 2003 |HDI_category = low |currency = Naira (₦) |currency_code = NGN |country_code = NGA |time_zone = |utc_offset = +1 |time_zone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = +2 |cctld = .ng |calling_code = 234 |footnotes =1.)Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected. }} The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country in Western Africa . The most populated country in Africa , Nigeria re-achieved democracy in 1999 after a sixteen-year interruption by a series of corrupt and brutal military Dictators . From 1966 until 1999, Nigeria had been ruled (except the short-lived Second Republic , 1979-1983) by military dictators who seized (or attempted to seize) power in Coup s and counter-coups. Nigeria borders the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north and the Gulf Of Guinea in the south. Major cities include the capital Abuja , the former capital Lagos , Ibadan , Calabar , Warri , Port Harcourt , Enugu , Kano , Kaduna , Onitsha , Nnewi , Jos , Ilọrin , Maiduguri , Aba , Bauchi , Owerri , Sokoto , and Benin City . The country's name first appeared in print in '' The Times '' in 1897 and was suggested by the paper's colonial editor Flora Shaw who would later marry Frederick Lugard , the first Govenor General of the Amalgamated Nigeria. The name comes from a combination of the words " Niger " (the country's longest river) and "Area". Its adjective form is ''Nigerian'' , which should not be confused with ''Nigeri'''e'''n'' for Niger . History See Also: History of Nigeria Nigeria has had a unique history. More than 2,000 years ago, the Nok people were producing sculptures. In Kano and Katsina , recorded history dates back to around AD 1000. Hausa kingdoms and the Kanem-Bornu Empire prospered as trade posts between North and West Africa. The Yoruba kingdoms of Ifẹ and Ọyọ were founded about AD 700-900 and AD 1400 respectively. The Ifẹ produced the terra cotta and bronze heads the Ọyọ extended as far as modern Togo . The Kingdom Of Benin developed an efficient army and renowned. The southeast produced the Onitsha , Nri, and Arochukwu kingdoms. The Nri kingdom reigned before slavery with Divine priests and powerful Ezenri. A prominent town they controlled was Igbo Ukwu which was home to Bronze figures and was a burial site for Kings. Niger Delta kingdoms also flourished, like the Calabar , Opobo , Bonny , Brass , Elem kalabari and others which were controlled by the Ijaw , Efik , Igbo , and Ibibio . Beginning in the 17th century Europeans established ports for slave trafficking. In the early 19th century the Fulani leader Usman Dan Fodio united most areas in the north under the control of an Islamic Fulani Empire centered in Sokoto . Demographics See Also: Demographics of Nigeria Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa but exactly how populous is subject of speculation. One estimate puts the population at 128,771,988, but national census results in the past few decades have been disputed. However, at least 24 cities have populations of more than 100,000. Nigeria has some 250 ethnic groups, with varying languages and customs, creating a country of rich ethnic diversity. The major ethnic groups in the population are Hausa and Fulani (29%), Yoruba (21%), and Igbo (22%). Ethnicity and religion were excluded from the 2006 census because these are highly controversial issues. There are also small minorities of whites, East Indians, Chinese, Japanese and Lebanese, mainly located in city areas. Politics See Also: Politics of Nigeria Nigeria is a supposed Federal Republic , comprising 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja . Each state has a Unicameral House Of Assembly and an elected Governor , who appoints an Executive Council . Many consider the biggest problem in Nigerian politics to be that the federal government is seen as unwilling to confront and correct the problems of bribery and corruption — a situation that has led to an international reputation for corruption, e.g., the Nigerian email scam (Officially Advance Fee Fraud ). Despite being the 5th largest world exporter of crude oil, Nigeria is one of the poorest in infrastructures and standard of living, corruption is most pervasive in the oil industry and the civil service and the current president has been the sole controller of oil affairs, combining his presidency with oil minister. He regularly dishes out oil blocks to cronies and close friends and there is little accountability of oil proceeds. The government has been criticized as still being heavily influenced by the military, who previously ruled the country. The current president, Olusegun Obasanjo , is a retired general, and he is currently scheming to change the constitution to enable him stay in power beyond the constitutionally prescribed two term. The socio-political problems of Nigeria has kept nigeria cripple for decades. Nigeria can be described as a "sleeping Giant". Administrative Divisions Nigeria is divided into 36 State s and one Territory by the northern dominated military. It is further sub-divided into 538 local authorities. The , Adamawa , Akwa Ibom , Anambra , Bauchi , Bayelsa , Benue , Borno , Cross River , Delta , Ebonyi , Ẹdo , Ekiti , Enụgụ , Gombe , Imo , Jigawa , Kaduna , Kano , Katsina , Kebbi , Kogi , Kwara , Lagos , Nassarawa , Niger , Ogun , Ondo , Ọsun , Ọyọ , Plateau , Rivers , Sokoto , Taraba , Yobe , Zamfara , Abuja Federal Capital Territory , Geography Located in western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria has a total area of 356,669 ); of that around 5,000 square miles (13,000 km&2) is water. Nigeria has a 2,515 Mile (4,047 km) border that it shares with Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The highest point in Nigeria is Chappal Waddi at 7,936 Feet (2,419 m). Nigeria is a beautiful country with a varied landscape. From the Obudu Hills in the southeast through the beaches in the south, the rainforest and savanna in the middle and the deserts in the extreme north; there is a lot of variety. Nigeria is also an important center for Biodiversity . It is widely belived that the areas surrounding Calabar , Cross River State contain the world's largest diversity of Butterflies . The drill monkey is only found in the wild in Southeast Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroun Economy See Also: Economy of Nigeria Mineral resources include Petroleum , Coal , and Tin . Agricultural products include Groundnut s, Palm Oil , Cocoa , Citrus fruits, Maize , Millet , Cassava , Yams and Sugar Cane . Right now the Nigerian economy is undergoing a massive reform. The Government is trying to improve the delivery of social services including health and education. The public sector is being reformed. Procurement practises are being tightened up. The authorities are seeking to tackle corruption. Most moribund public utilities have either been privatized or are in the latter stages of being privatized. Nigeria accumulated a significant foreign debt. However many of the projects financed by these debts were inefficient, bedevilled by corruption or failed to live up to expectations. Nigeria defaulted on its debt and over the years, arrears and penalty interest accumulated and increased the size of the debt. After a long campaign by the Nigeria authorities, in October 2005 Nigeria and its Paris Club creditors reached an agreement that will see Nigeria's debt reduced by approximately 60%. Nigeria will use part of its oil windfall to pay the residual 40%. This deal will free up at least $1 billion annually for poverty reduction programmes. Nigeria is infamous for being the source of scam e-mails sent to people all over the world requesting advance payments in order to help the sender relocate funds ( 419 Scam ). Those who pay these fees never get any money themselves. This practice of sending scam emails has also spread to several other countries within Africa, including Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic and most recently South Africa. A new ( 2006 ) law is currently being discussed (in Nigeria) that would punish such offenses with up to three years in Jail . Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, there has been massive investment in Nigeria's telecommunications industry, making the country the world's fastest growing telecommunications market. Advances made by the Government in improving the state of the country's economy have led many to predict a bright future for the long moribund economy. Public Health Issues Polio One issue which has been complicated by political chaos has been the effort of the World Health Organization to eradicate Polio worldwide. Northern Nigeria was the location of half of all documented polio cases in 2003, but Muslim clerics have repeatedly inveighed against the Vaccine as an effort by Westerners to Sterilise young Nigerian Muslim girls. Another issue was the belief that the Polio vaccine caused AIDS. The national vaccination program was suspended in several states in August of 2003, and the disease nearly quintupled in frequency (119 cases in first quarter 2004, vs. 24 in 2003). By May 2004, polio was reported to have spread from there to several other African nations which had previously been declared polio-free. On May 18 , the state of Kano agreed to resume vaccination programmes using vaccines produced in Indonesia , not the US . {Link without Title} Obstetric Fistula Obstetric Fistula is a very painful, preventable condition whereby a woman or girl is impregnated before she has grown old enough to successfully bear a child. After days of failed labor, the baby dies and the mother is left with serious damage to her internal organs. Deferred marriage, birth control and Caesarian Section have all but eliminated this health problem in the developed world. From a September 28, 2005, New York Times article : : Mostly teenagers who tried to deliver their first child at home, the girls failed at labor. Their babies were lodged in their narrow birth canals, and the resulting pressure cut off blood to vital tissues and ripped holes in their bowels or urethras, or both. Now their babies were dead. And the would-be mothers, their insides wrecked, were utterly incontinent. Also from that article: :[Obstetric fistula] is most concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, where poverty and rudimentary health care combine with traditions of home birth and early pregnancy to make women especially vulnerable. In Nigeria alone, perhaps 400,000 to 800,000 women suffer untreated fistulas, says the United Nations. The United Nations has a campaign to treat and prevent fistulas. See endfistula.org . Other risks The prevalence rate for HIV / AIDS in the adult population was estimated at 5.4% in 2003, a figure that's relatively low when compared to other parts of Africa, especially Southern and Eastern Africa. {Link without Title} Culture See Also: Culture of Nigeria
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