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Country:
Federal
Republic of Nigeria
Geography:
Nigeria is in
Western Africa and
shares borders with Niger to the north; Chad to the northeast;
Cameroon to the east; and Benin to the west. The southern part of
Nigeria borders the Atlantic Ocean - Gulf of Guinea. The coastal
region in the south consists of lagoons, sandy beaches and swamps
which merge into a rainforest. Central Nigeria is savannah, open
woodland, and plateaus. The northern part of the country is desert
and semi-desert. Northern Nigeria is the southern extent of the
Sahara.
Area:
923,768 sq
km
(356,669 sq
miles); slightly more than twice the size of California
Background/History:
“Following
nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in
1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was
completed. The president faces the daunting task of rebuilding a
petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through
corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In
addition, the OBASANJO administration must defuse longstanding
ethnic and religious tensions, if it is to build a sound foundation
for economic growth and political stability. Despite some
irregularities, the April 2003 elections marked the first civilian
transfer of power in Nigeria's history.” (CIA-World Fact Book)
Population:
137,253,133
(July 2004 est.)
Population
Growth Rate:
2.45% (2004
est.)
Fertility Rate:
5.32 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Infant Mortality
Rate:
70.49
deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy
at Birth:
50.49 years
HIV/AIDS Adult
Prevalence Rate:
5.4% (2003 est.)
Language:
English is
the official language. Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo) are the three main
languages spoken. There are over 400 other languages spoken in the
country.
Capital:
Abuja
Government:
Republic
transitioning from military to civilian rule. Nigeria obtained
independence from the UK in 1960.
Climate:
varies;
The southern
coast is hot and humid with a rainy season from March to November.
During the dry season, the Harmattan wind blows from the
Sahara. The north’s rainy season is from July to September. Nights
can be cold in December and January.
Religion:
Muslim 50%,
Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
: Muslims are in the majority in the north and west of the country;
while in the south, Christians form the majority of the population.
Currency:
Naira (NGN)
Labor Force:
agriculture 70%, industry 10%, services 20% (1999 est.)
Natural
Resources:
natural gas,
petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc,
arable land
Agriculture
Products:
cocoa,
peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca),
yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish
Economy:
Nigeria is
rich in oil but has been plagued with political instability,
corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic
management. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and has to
import food due to the rapid population growth. Some reform is
taking place under the new civilian administration.
Embassy of
Nigeria
3519
International Court, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 986 8400 (ext 1005 for consular
and immigration section). Fax: (202) 775 1385.
E-mail:
babalola@nigeriaembassyusa.org or
umar@nigeriaembassyusa.org (consular and immigration section).
Website:
www.nigeriaembassyusa.org
Nigerian
Consulate General
828 Second
Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 850 2200. Fax: (212) 687 8768.
E-mail:
info@nigeria-consulate-ny.org
Website:
www.nigeria-consulate-ny.org
Embassy of the
United States of America
7 Mambilla
Street, off Aso Drive Maitama District, Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: (9) 523 0960/0916/5857. Fax: (9) 523
0353 or 2078 (consular section).
E-mail:
usabuja@state.gov or
consularabuja@state.gov (consular section).
Website:
http://abuja.usembassy.gov
US Consulate
General
2 Walter
Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: (1) 261 0050/78. Fax: (1) 261 9856.
E-mail:
uslagos@state.gov
(Information
obtained from the World Fact Book 2004 and other sources) |
