Nigeria

This Page was last updated on the 28th May, 2007.

Country News	Tuesday 28th May 2007 is the inauguration day of the new President of Nigeria. Umaru Yar'Adua was elected in a disputed presidential election. A strike, called to protest at the irregularities, has not met with much succcess. Outgoing President Obasanjo has stated that Nigeria is now more stable after his eight-year rule. The candidate of the ruling party, the PDP (People's Democratic Party), won the election with 24.6 million votes. His nearest rival, former military ruler Muhammedu Buhari of the ANPP (All Nigerian People's Party) won six million. Action Congress' Atiku Abubakar gained 2.6 million votes and other candidates fewer than him. These figures were published by the Independent Electoral commission of Nigeria when it declared Umaru Yar'Adua to be the victor, reportd IRIN, the UN news service. Agenzia Fides issued the following report: Umaru Yar'Adua, the candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP led by outgoing President Olusegun Obasanj has been declared the winner of Nigerian presidential elections on 21 April (see Fides 23 April 2007). The National electoral commission announced the Yar'Adua obtained 24,638,063 votes and his direct rivals, Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of ANPP All Nigeria Peoples Party, and vice president Atiku Abubakar, of Action Congress, obtained respectively 6,605,299 and 2,637,848 votes. However the victory is rejected by the Opposition parties who call for the vote to be annulled and another election. Besides fraud denounced by international and local observers, the opposition protests the atmosphere of violence in which the elections were held. According the EU representatives, “at least 200 people, members of the police and candidates” were killed in episodes of electoral violence. A toll which for the European Union is “unacceptable”. Despite calls for calm from the newly elected President, violent protests were staged, especially in the city of Kano, in the north of Nigeria, where demonstrators took to the streets and began burning tires and had to be dispersed by police with tear gas. Yar'Adua is from the Delta region in the south, where most of the countries oil reserves are found. The people here hope that a representative in power may improve their chance of improving living conditions. In fact only a minimum part of oil profits has been used for the region, the enormous sums are dispersed by widespread corruption. Beyond regional differences, corruption is the real problem which should unite not divide Nigerians. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 24/4/2007 righe 27 parole 286)“We failed to achieve free, fair and credible elections” Catholic Bishops of Nigerian say on the basis of reports by 30,000 local Church observers Abuja (Agenzia Fides)- “Reports from our observers show that once again we failed to achieve free, fair and credible elections. These reports from all over the country demonstrate that the people's mandate has been abused, traumatised and brutalised” the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria say in a statement on the outcome of presidential elections held 21 April (see Fides 20, 23 and 24 April 2007). The statement is signed by Bishops' conference president Archbishop Felix Alaba Adeosin Job of Ibadan, and Archbishop Joseph Edra Ukpo of the diocese of Calabar head of the Bishops' Church and Society Commission. The Bishops assessed the elections on the basis of information collected by over 30,000 observers engaged all over the country by the Bishops' Justice and Peace and Development Commission. The national electoral commission assigned the victory to vice president Umaru Yar'Adua, but the result was rejected by the Opposition which has called for the elections to be repeated. The European Union (“elections non credible” according to the head of the EU delegation) and various NGOs also harshly criticised the electoral process. Facts reported by the local and international electoral observers included delayed opening of polling stations, not enough voting papers, uncalled for army pressure on electors, atmosphere of violence and intimidation in various parts of the country. In violence connected with the electoral process in the past week, more than 200 people died. African countries have not criticised the elections and the first leader to congratulate the newly elected president was South Africa's head of state Thabo Mbeki. Umaru Yar'Adua will be installed on 29 April taking over from his mentor, outgoing president Olusegun Obasanjo. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 28/4/2007 righe 30 parole 320) Other News: New Catholic Centre for Nigerian women victims of human trafficking will be ready in July, reports Agenzia Fides, the Catholic Missionary Newsagency. “During my last visit to Nigeria in June 2005, I realised yet again the necessity of a centre to combat human trafficking and help women and minors trapped in this criminal activity ” Consolata missionary Sr Eugenia Bonetti told Fides. Sr Bonetti is USMI (Union of Italian Religious Superiors) delegate for the office to combat Human Trafficking said: “We knocked on many doors and in the end reached an agreement with the Italian Bishops’ Conference CEI committee for third world charity. CEI stressed the need to have a local person to facilitate communication from Nigeria with the CEI offices”. Work began in August 2006 to build a Centre in Benin City which should be opened in July this year. The centre has various goals: prevent young women from leaving their country for the “promised land”; promote prevention campaigns, and course of formation; restore the dignity, freedom and identity of many exploited women; help those who return to Nigeria, either expelled or voluntary repatriation, often abducted and without identity papers, to reinsert themselves in the family and in society to make a new life; support and protect families from acts of revenge by traffickers; build a concrete network to promote collaboration and communication with various organisations at home and abroad. USMI and its Nigerian counterpart began to work together in 2000 when USMI chairperson Mother Teresa Simionato invited Nigerian chairperson Sr. Patricia Ebegbulem and two other sisters to visit Italy and see for themselves the difficulties of thousands of Nigerian women and girls imported to Italy and forced into prostitution. On retuning to Nigerian the Nigerian Religious, deeply troubled to see the distressful situation of so many of their sister Nigerians, immediately informed the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and other religious communities. In 2002 the Bishops used a pastoral letter on the matter: “Restoring Dignity to the Women of Nigeria”, and the local religious communities set up a Committee for the Support of the Dignity of Women with offices in Benin City. With the help of Caritas Italy, the Committee purchased the land for a three story building to include offices for counselling of abused women and families and promoting a network of collaboration and communication with bodies in Nigeria and abroad; and a home for women in need of assistance, medical care, protection and social reintegration; a community of sisters of different congregations will offer services of counselling, information, and management. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/4/2007 righe 45 parole 576) Agenzia Fides, the missionary news agency of the Catholic Church reported recently: The Catholic Church in Nigeria appealed to President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice president Atiku Abubakar to stop their public dispute, come to an agreement and work for the common good. In a press conference Fr Ralph Madu communications officer of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria said “the country needs better political leadership to consolidate its democratic progress”. The press meeting was held in Abuja, shortly before the country’s Catholic Bishops started their plenary meeting. The communications officer said “the Bishops confirm their prayers and efforts for free and transparent elections and peace and stability in Nigeria”. Fr. Madu said Nigeria needs politicians who work for the common good leaders who take the citizenry seriously; explaining that with the attitude of the current leadership, the correct political spheres should be created, “so that we can have a situation, whereby leaders, [after leaving office] office, will not be afraid that [their shadows may be chasing them”, an obvious reference to a report by the Economic Finance Crimes Commission which named MPs of governing and opposition parties. The Commission, set up by Olusegun Obasanjo, said it had collected data which showed that over 130 people were seen to be previous corruption offenders and therefore “unsuitable for public office”. Oil on the fire was thrown by a report from an ad hoc senate committee on the use of funds for the development of the oil industry which accuses both the President and the vice president of embezzlement. According to the report, between 1999 and 2006 funds of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund were misused. The report targets especially vice president Abubakar disliked by President Obasanjo who is trying to put obstacles in front of the former’s electoral campaign. Abubakar is running for presidency while Obasanjo cannot stand for a third mandate. On 21 April 50 million Nigerians will elect a new president, 36 governors and municipal councils. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 1/3/2007 righe 35 parole 434)
Official Name	Federal Republic of Nigeria
Former Name	Federal Republic of Nigeria (Nok culture in Plateau more than 2,000 years ago; recorded history of Kano and Katsina dates back to 1000 AD.; benifted from north-south trade between North African Berbers and forest people; Yoruba kingdom of Oyo founded about 1400, at its height from 17th-19th centuries; kingdom of Benin developed as early as 15th-16th centuries; European traders established coastal ports in 17th-19th centuries; Usman dan Fodio, Fulani leader, promulgated Islam and that brought most of north under the loose control of an empire centered in Sokoto - early 19th century; British expanded trade with Nigerian interior, claimed influence and received international recognition in 1885; Royal Niger Company chartered in 1886; company's territory came under control of the British Government in 1900; country united as ‘Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria’ in 1914; growth of Nigerian nationalism and demands for independence; full independence in October 1960; proclaimed a federal republic and promulgating a new constitution in October 1963.)
Capital	Abuja (designated), Lagos (de facto), the capital was officially transferred from Lagos to Abujaon on 12 December 1991.
Main Towns	Abuja (pop. est. 100,000), Bauchi, Benin City, Enugu (pop. 500,000), Ibadan (pop. 5 million), Ife, Jos, Kaduna, Kano (pop. 1 million), Lagos (pop. 12 million), Oshogbo, Oyo, Port Harcourt, Sokoto
Subdivisions	36 states: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara. 1 capital territory: Abuja Federal Capital Territory.
Independence	1 October 1960 (from UK)
Constitution	The 1979 constitution was suspended after 1983, the May 3, 1989 constitution never implemented, and the 1999 constitution (based largely on the 1979 constitution) was promulgated by decree on May 5, 1999. The 1999 constitution came into force on May 29, 1999.
National Holiday	Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
UN Membership	7 October 1960
OAU Membership	25 May 1963 – now African Union (AU)
Commonwealth	1 October 1960
Other Organisations	In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Africa-Caribbean-Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Group of 15 (G-15), Group of 19 (G-19), Intergovernmental Group of 24 (G-24), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Criminal Court (ICCt), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP), United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), United Nations University (UNU), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Customs Organization (WCO, former Customs Cooperation Council [CCC]), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO), World Trade Organisation (WTrO).
Population	World Bank Figures: 123,896,520 (1999), 126,910,000 (2000), 130,006,872 (2001), 133,189,664 (2002), 136,460,976 (2003) Other Sources: 101,232,251 (July 1995), 126,635,626 (July 2001 est.), 133,881,703 (July 2003 est.)
Area	356,669 sq. mls. (923,768 sq. kms.)
Density	96 per sq.km. (1995)
Highest Point	Mt. Waddi 7,936 ft. (2,419 m.)
Lowest Point	Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Guinea - sea level
Neighbours	Benin (W), Cameroon (SE), Chad (NE), Niger (N)
Life Expectancy	53 years (1995), total population: 51.07 years, male: 51.07 years, female: 51.07 years (2001 est.) total population: 51.01 years, male: 50.89 years, female: 51.14 years (2003 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate	total: 71.35 deaths/1,000 live births, female: 68.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), male: 74.44 deaths/1,000 live births
HIV/AIDS	adult prevalence rate: 5.8% (2001 est.) people living with HIV/AIDS: 3.5 million (2001 est.) deaths: 170,000 (2001 est.) IRIN Plus News - HIV/AIDS Treatment Map: Nigeria - Updated: Sept 2004 Population: 126 million HIV Prevalence Rate (%) 2003 End: 5.4 No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS: 6 million No. Of People in need of ART: 520,000 No. Of People Currently On ART (Sep 04): 17,000 No. Of People on ART Public Sector: Not Defined No. Of People on ART in Non Govt Programmes: Not Defined No. Of People Exptd to be on ART (2005 End): 260,000 Front Line Drug Regimen: N/D HIV/AIDS Treatment Sites: 50 Global Fund 2 Year Approved Funding (Round 1: Approved 01-Jul-03): US$17,772,103.00 Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund: US$820,414.00 Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP): US$90.3 million Total Funds Disbursed By PEPFAR: US$55.5 million Source: WHO, UNAIDS, USAID
Adult Literacy Rate	total population: 57.1%, male: 67.3%, female: 47.3% (1995 est.) total population: 68%, male: 75.7%, female: 60.6% (2003 est.)
Ethnic Groups	More than 250 ethnic groups including: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
Languages	English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Religions	Muslim 50% Christian 40% Traditional Religion (Animist) 10%
Type of Government	Federal Republic - transitioning from military to civilian rule
President	Olusegun Obasanjo (chief of state and head of government since 29 May 1999, reelected May 2003 [25/10/2005])
Prime Minister	---
Political Parties	Political parties were suspended after the coup of 17 November 1993, but now include: Alliance for Democracy (AD); All Nigeria Peoples' Party (ANPP); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); National Democratic Party (NDP); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); Peoples Salvation Party (PSP); United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP).
Ruling Party	---
Currency	Naira (N, NGN)(100 kobo) nairas per US dollar - 132.89 (2004), 129.22 (2003), 120.58 (2002), 111.23 (2001), 101.7 (2000)
GDP	US$291 (1992) US$26,817m (1995) GDP: US$72 billion (2004 est.) GDP: US$65,2bn (2004) purchasing power parity - US$125.7 billion (2004 est.) per capita purchasing power parity - US$875 (2002 est.) per capita purchasing power parity - US$1,000 (2004 est.)
GNP	US$310 (1992) US$250 (1994) US$260 (1995)
Per Capita Income	Per capita GDP: US$290 (2002 est.) GDP per head: US$447 (2004)
Population Below Poverty Line	60% (2000 est.)
Land Use	arable land: 31.29% permanent crops: 2.96% other: 65.75% (2001) Irrigated land: 2,330 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural Resources	natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land
Oil and Natural Gas	Oil production: 2.256 million bbl/day (2001 est.) 2.356 million bbl/day (2004 est.) consumption: 275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) 275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) exports: NA (2001) imports: NA (2001) proved reserves: 27 billion bbl (January 2002 est.) 34 billion bbl (2004 est.) The oil sector provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues. Natural gas - production: 15.68 billion cu m (2001 est.) consumption: 7.85 billion cu m (2001 est.) exports: 7.83 billion cu m (2001 est.) imports: 0 cu m (2001 est.) proved reserves: 4.007 trillion cu m (January 2002 est.) 4.007 trillion cu m (2004) Pipelines: crude oil 2,042 km; petroleum products 3,000 km; natural gas 500 km Pipelines: condensate 105 km; gas 1,896 km; oil 3,638 km; refined products 3,626 km (2004)
Military	Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 31,790,482 (2003 est.) males age 18-49: 26,804,314 (2005 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: US$417.9 million, 1% of GDP (FY02) $544.6 million, 0.8% of GDP (2004)
Economic Aid Received	US$250 million ODA (1998) Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$1 (1999), US$1 (2000), US$1 (2001), US$2 (2002), US$2 (2003)
Debt	Severely indebted World Bank Figures: US$27,206,600,704 (2000), US$30,881,800,192 (2001), US$31,495,399,424 (2002), US$33,890,000,896 (2003) Other Sources: US$35,005m (1995) US$32 bn (2000 est.) US$29.7 billion (2002 est.) US$30.55 billion (2004 est.) Signed an IMF stand-by agreement in August 2000 and received a debt-restructuring deal from the Paris Club and a US$1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on economic reforms. The agreement expired in November 2001 and Nigeria apparently received much less multilateral assistance than expected in 2002. Increases in foreign oil investment and oil production kept growth at 3% in 2002.
Major Imports	machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals
Imports from	UK 8.8%, US 8.6%, Germany 7.9%, France 6.8%, China (2001) US 9.1%, China 8.8%, UK 8.7%, Netherlands 6.3%, France 6.1%, Germany 5.7%, Italy 4.7% (2004) $17.14 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Major Exports	petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber petroleum (98.%), cocoa, rubber (2000)
Exports to	US $21.4 billion (2000) US 47.7%, Spain 10.0%, India 7.7%, France 6.1%, Brazil (2001) US 48.2%, India 8.1%, Spain 7.4%, Brazil 5.5%, Japan 4.1% (2004) US$33.99 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 28 May, 2007

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