ABOUT NIGERIA
In terms of sheer numeric and unexploited natural resources, Nigeria is the giant of Africa. With a projected population of over 120 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in the African continent. Nigeria's unappreciated glory lies in its ethnic and religious diversity. The country has more than 250 ethnic groups. The most populous and politically influential of which are Igbo(Ibo), Yoruba, Hausa and Fulani, Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio and Tiv.
Nigeria is bordered on the north by Niger Republic and Chad, on the west by Benin Republic, the east by Cameroon and the south by the Gulf of Guinea. The country's geographical area is estimated at 923,768 square kilometers, the size of Texas and Louisiana combined and it has the largest market potentials in Africa.
Nigeria is blessed with several natural resources including natural gas, petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc and arable land. Nigeria's climate is largely friendly and it varies from the equatorial east and west to the tropical middle belt and the arid north.
Until 1999, Nigeria was under the firm grip of military despots for 16 years. Sadly, however, the much-expected transition to civil rule has not brought any relief particularly to the estimated 65 % of Nigerians who live below the poverty line.
Political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management plundered the oil-rich Nigerian economy. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from over-dependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues. Due to the short-sightedness of the Nigerian leadership, the largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now has to import food to feed its people.
Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960. The country practices a presidential system of government and its major trading partners include the United States, Britain, Germany, Brazil, France and China.
Nigeria has 36 states including Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
