Nigeria

A. Introduction

Nigeria is situated in West Africa and sits on the Gulf of Guinea. Its area is 923,770 km2 and has an estimated population of 103,912,000. The climate varies from region to region: the south is hot and wet; the central is semi-tropical, while the north is hot and dry. Natural resources include oil, tin, niobium, iron, coal, limestone, lead, zinc and natural gas.

B. Economic, Political and Social Situation

Nigeria is a country that is saddled with many border conflicts with its neighbours, government run on bribery and corruption, military dictators, instability and social unrest. It is rich in natural resources. The main source of income for the country is from export of oil. The major problems facing the country are environmental disaster due to soil erosion, rapid deforestation as a consequence of cutting down trees at a fast and uncontrolled manner. Vast areas of land have become desert.

The country still enjoys religious freedom. Nigeria’s population has both Christians and Muslims in a nearly equal ratio, with a small percentage of the population following other religious beliefs. English is the official language.

Major industries are oil, coal, tin, limestone, palm oil, peanut, cotton, rubber, timber, leather, textile, cement and other construction materials, food, shoes, farming insecticide, fertilizers, printing, pottery, steel and iron. Agriculture products are cocoa, peanut, palm-oil, rubber, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, yams, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Fishery and forestry resources have been extensively explored.