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Nigeria

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{{Infobox_Country |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 language 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 of Nigeria President
Vice-President of Nigeria Vice-President |leader_names = Olusegun Obasanjo Olusẹgun Ọbasanj�
Atiku Abubakar |area_rank = 32nd |area_magnitude = 923,768 km |area= 923,768 |areami²= 356,669 |percent_water = 1.4% |population_estimate = 128,771,988 ¹ |population_estimate_rank = 9th |population_estimate_year = 2005 |population_census = |population_census_year = |population_density = 139 |population_densitymi² =360 |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 = History of Nigeria Independence |established_events = Declared |established_dates = From the United Kingdom
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 West 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 coups 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 Enugu, Kano, Kaduna, Onitsha, Nnewi, Jos, Ilorin Il�rin, Maiduguri, Aba, Bauchi, Owerri, Sokoto, and Benin City . [http://www.lagospicture.mooo.com See Picture of some of the cities.] . 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 River Niger" (the country's longest river) and "Area". Its adjective form is ''Nigeri'''a'''n'' , which should not be confused with ''Nigeri'''e'''n'' for Niger.

History
{{main|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 Anno Domini AD 1000. Hausa people Hausa kingdoms and the Kanem-Bornu Empire prospered as trade posts between North and West Africa. The Yoruba kingdoms of Ife Ifẹ and Oyo Ọyá»? were founded about AD 700-900 and AD 1400 respectively. The Ifẹ produced the terra cotta and bronze heads the Ọyá»? extended as far as modern Togo. The Kingdom of Benin developed an efficient army and renowned artisans. 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
{{main|Demographics of Nigeria}} Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and accounts for approximately one-quarter of West Africa's people. 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 tribal diversity. The major ethnic groups in the population are Hausa and Fulani (29%), Yoruba (21%), and Igbo people Igbo (18%). There are also small minorities of whites and East Indians which are mainly located in city areas.

Politics
{{main|Politics of Nigeria}} Nigeria is a Federal Republic, comprising 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. Each state has a unicameral House of Assembly and an elected List of Nigerian state governors 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, eg the the [http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/nigeria.asp Nigerian email scam] (Offically Advance fee fraud). 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 accused by detractors of maintaining his military contacts.

Administrative Divisions
{{main articles|States of Nigeria}} Nigeria is divided into 36 states and one territory. It is further sub-divided into 538 local authorities. The States of Nigeria states include: Abia State Abia, Adamawa State Adamawa, Akwa Ibom State Akwa Ibom, Anambra State Anambra, Bauchi State Bauchi, Bayelsa State Bayelsa, Benue State Benue, Borno State Borno, Cross River State Cross River, Delta State, Nigeria Delta, Ebonyi State Ebonyi, Edo State Ẹdo, Ekiti State Ekiti, Enugu State Enụgụ, Gombe State Gombe, Imo State Imo, Jigawa State Jigawa, Kaduna State Kaduna, Kano State Kano, Katsina State Katsina, Kebbi State Kebbi, Kogi State Kogi, Kwara State Kwara, Lagos State Lagos, Nassarawa State Nassarawa, Niger State Niger, Ogun State Ogun, Ondo State Ondo, Osun State Ọsun, Oyo State Ọy�, Plateau State Plateau, Rivers State Rivers, Sokoto State Sokoto, Taraba State Taraba, Yobe State Yobe, Zamfara State Zamfara, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria Abuja Federal Capital Territory

Geography
Located in western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria has a total area of 356,669 square miles (923,768 square kilometre km²); of that around 5,000 square miles (13,000 km²) 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 foot (unit of length) feet (2,419 m).

Economy
Image:Market in Lagos, Nigeria.jpg thumb|230px|A market in Lagos {{main|Economy of Nigeria}} Mineral resources include petroleum, coal and tin. Agricultural products include groundnuts, palm oil, cocoa, citrus fruits, maize, millet, cassava, yam (vegetable) 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 [http://www.bpeng.org/10/0317731656532b.asp?DocID=295&MenuID=5 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 advanced payments in order to help the sender relocate funds (Advance fee fraud 419 scam). Those who pay these fees never get any money themselves. This practise 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 Prison 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 sterilization (surgical procedure) sterilise young Nigerian Muslim girls. 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 United States US. [http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1084907670277]

Other risks
The prevalence rate for HIV/AIDS in the adult population was estimated at 5.4% in 2003. [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ni.html]

Culture
{{main|Culture of Nigeria}} *Music of Nigeria *List of African writers (by country)#Nigeria List of writers from Nigeria *Nollywood (The Nigerian Movie Industry) *Islam in Nigeria

See also
* Communications in Nigeria * Foreign relations of Nigeria * Holidays in Nigeria * List of Presidents of Nigeria * Nigerian Universities * List of cities in Nigeria * List of Nigerian companies * Military of Nigeria * National Service in Nigeria * Nigerian civil war * Nigeria Football Association * Advance fee fraud Nigerian money transfer fraud * Transport in Nigeria * Nigerian Embassies in other Nations * Nigerian Currencies

Culture and religion
* African Jews * Catholic Church in Nigeria * Igbo mythology * Islam in Nigeria * Music of Nigeria * Sharia * Yoruba Mythology

External links
{{sisterlinks|Nigeria}}

Government

- Nigerian Government official site
- Nopa Net National Orientation And Public Affairs
- Federal Ministry of Finance official site
- Budget Officeofficial site
- Securities & Exchange Commission official site
- Central Bank of Nigeria official site
- Debt Management Office official site
- Economic and Financial Crimes Commission official site
- Nigerian Communications Commission official site
- Federal Ministry of Science and Technology official site
- National Information Technology Development Agency official site
- Raw Materials Research Development Council official site
- Ministry of Federal Capital Territory official site
- Federal Ministry of Industry official site
- Standards Organisation of Nigeria official site
- Nigerian Yellow Pages
- National Planning Commission official site
- National Databank official site
- Nigerian Business Directory
- Federal Office of Statistics official site
- Corporate Affairs commission official site
- National Pension Commission official site
- Bureau of Public Enterprises official site
- Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation official site
- Nigerian Computer Society

News

- Nigerian Tribune daily newspaper
- The Guardian daily newspaper
- This Day daily newspaper
- Vanguard daily newspaper
- Daily Sun Entertainment-oriented Newspaper
- Punch daily Newspaper
- Naija Television Online Television Online

Overviews

- BBC News Country Profile - ''Nigeria''
- CIA World Factbook - ''Nigeria''
- Open Directory Project - ''Nigeria'' directory category

Picture of Nigeria

- See Picture of Lagos Abuja ibadan and Kano .

Portals

- Online Nigeria
- Nairaland Forum
- Naijaryders Forum {{Africa}} Category:African Union member states Category:Nigeria Category:Peace and Security Council af:Nigerië am:ናይጄሪያ ang:Nigeria ar:نيجيريا an:Nicheria ast:Nixeria bg:Ð?игериÑ? zh-min-nan:Nigeria bs:Nigerija br:Nigeria ca:Nigèria cv:Ð?игери cs:Nigérie cy:Nigeria da:Nigeria de:Nigeria et:Nigeeria el:Î?ιγηÏ?ία es:Nigeria eo:NiÄ?erio eu:Nigeria fa:نیجریه fr:Nigeria ga:An Nigéir gd:Nigeria gl:Nixeria - Nigeria ko:나ì?´ì§€ë¦¬ì•„ ht:Nijerya hi:नाइजीरिया hr:Nigerija io:Nigeria id:Nigeria is:Nígería it:Nigeria he:ניגריה ka:ნიგერიáƒ? kw:Nijeri la:Nigeria lv:NigÄ“rija lt:Nigerija li:Nigeria hu:Nigéria ms:Nigeria nl:Nigeria nds:Nigeria ja:ナイジェリア no:Nigeria nn:Nigeria oc:Nigèria pl:Nigeria pt:Nigéria ro:Nigeria ru:Ð?игериÑ? sq:Nigeria sh:Nigerija simple:Nigeria sk:Nigéria sl:Nigerija sr:Ð?игерија fi:Nigeria sv:Nigeria tl:Nigeria tr:Nijerya uk:Ð?ігеріÑ? wa:Nidjeria yo:Nigeria zh:奈å?Šåˆ©äºž ar:نيجيريا Mohamed {{sisterlinkswp|Category:Nigeria}} {{commonscat|Nigeria}} {{catmore}} Category:African countries Category:Western Africa Category: Members of the Commonwealth of Nations ar:تصنيÙ?:نيجيريا bs:Category:Nigerija ca:Categoria:Nigèria cs:Kategorie:Nigérie da:Kategori:Nigeria de:Kategorie:Nigeria es:Categoría:Nigeria eu:Kategoria:Nigeria fr:Catégorie:Nigeria gl:Category:Nixeria ko:분류:나ì?´ì§€ë¦¬ì•„ io:Category:Nigeria id:Kategori:Nigeria it:Categoria:Nigeria nl:Categorie:Nigeria ja:Category:ナイジェリア no:Kategori:Nigeria pl:Kategoria:Nigeria pt:Categoria:Nigéria ru:КатегориÑ?:Ð?игериÑ? sl:Kategorija:Nigerija sv:Kategori:Nigeria uk:КатегоріÑ?:Ð?ігеріÑ? yo:Category:Nigeria wa:Categoreye:Nidjeria

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