Wednesday 18 April 2007

Introduction


Full name: The Federal Republic of Nigeria
Population: 140 million (Census, March 2006)
Population growth rate: 2.4 (% as of 2006)
Currency: Naira
Capital: Abuja
Biggest city: Lagos
Area: 920,773 sq km (355,376 sq miles)
Language: English and local languages including Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and Fulani
Religions: Islam, Christianity, indigenous beliefs
President: Olusegun Obasanjo - transfering to Umaru Musa Yar’adua in May 2007

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is situated on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. Its neighbors are Benin, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. The lower course of the Niger River flows south through the western part of the country into the Gulf of Guinea.

British influence and control over what would become Nigeria grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960. Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The recent elections (April 2007) marks the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in Nigeria’s history.

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