Nigeria

Federal Republic of Nigeria

federal republicIndependence 1 October 1960 (from the UK)

Nigeria as the 2009 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 141 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAbuja, UTC+1
Position10 00 N, 8 00 E
Area923,768 sq km
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Populationas each edition published it
149.23 million July 2009 est. · 118.82m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.999% 2009 est. · 3.13% in 1993
Median ageyears
19 years 2009 est. · 18 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
46.94 years 2009 est. · 54.7 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.91 children per woman 2009 est. · 6.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
94.35 deaths per 1,000 live births 2009 est. · 119 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,300 2008 est. · $300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
5.3% 2008 est. · 3.6% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africa's most populous country 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. The government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy.

In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history.

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon

20 fields

Land useshare of 923,768 sq km

arable land 33.02%permanent crops 3.14%other 63.84% (2005)irrigated 2,820 sq km (2003)
Area
923,768sq km
country comparison to the world: 32land: 910,768 sq kmwater: 13,000 sq kmslightly more than twice the size of California
Coastline
853km
territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Highest point
2,419m
Chappal Waddilowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
4,047km
border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon

Geographic coordinates

10 00 N, 8 00 E

Climate

varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north

Terrain

southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
8.01 cu km/yr (21%/10%/69%)
per capita:
61 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; flooding

Environment - current issues

  • soil degradation;
  • rapid deforestation;
  • urban air and water pollution;
  • desertification;
  • oil pollution - water, air, and soil;
  • has suffered serious damage from oil spills;
  • loss of arable land;
  • rapid urbanization

Environment - international agreements

party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea

People

23 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2009 est.)

2,211,840
65 and over3.1%
2,343,250
42,240,641
15-6455.5%
40,566,672
31,624,050
0-1441.5%
30,242,637
MaleFemale
Population
149,229,090
country comparison to the world: 8growth rate: 1.999% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 59
Note
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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)

Per 1,000 population

Birth
36.65 (2009 est.)Death
16.56 (July 2009 est.)Net migration
-0.1 (2009 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2009 est.)46.94
46.16 · 47.76Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)94.35
100.38 · 87.97Literacy (2003 est.)68%
75.7% · 60.6%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2009 est.)19
18.9 · 19.1School life expectancy years (2004)8
9 · 7
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 212 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 13 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

Muslim 50%Christian 40%indigenous beliefs 10%
Urban population
48%of total population
(2008)rate of urbanization: 3.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
3.1%
(2007 est.)country comparison to the world: 23

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.94 male(s)/female
total population:
1.04 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.91 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2.6 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

HIV/AIDS - deaths

170,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:
malaria and yellow fever
respiratory disease:
meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease:
one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever
water contact disease:
leptospirosis and shistosomiasis
animal contact disease:
rabies

note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Nationality

noun:
Nigerian(s)
adjective:
Nigerian

Ethnic groups

  • Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups;
  • the following are the most populous and politically influential:
    • 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

Education expenditures

0.9% of GDP (1991) country comparison to the world: 180

Government

Federal republic; President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007); President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

69.8%
Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA 69.8%Muhammadu BUHARI 18.7%Atiku ABUBAKAR 7.5%Orji Uzor KALU 1.7%other 2.3%election last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011)

Senate, 116 seats, elected 21 April 2007one dot, one seat

PDP 76ANPP 27AD 6UNPP 2APGA 2NPD 1PRP 1vacant 1

Percent of vote

PDP 53.7%ANPP 27.9%AD 9.7%other 8.7%

Country name

conventional long form:
Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form:
Nigeria

Government type

federal republic

Capital

name:
Abuja
geographic coordinates:
9 05 N, 7 32 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

Independence

1 October 1960 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)

Constitution

adopted 5 May 1999; effective 29 May 1999

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007)
cabinet:
Federal Executive Council
elections:
president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011)
election results:
Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA elected president; percent of vote - Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA 69.8%, Muhammadu BUHARI 18.7%, Atiku ABUBAKAR 7.5%, Orji Uzor KALU 1.7%, other 2.3%

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109 seats, 3 from each state plus 1 from Abuja; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011); House of Representatives - last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011)
election results:
  • Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53.7%, ANPP 27.9%, AD 9.7%, other 8.7%;
  • seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6;
  • House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.5%, ANPP 27.4%, AD 8.8%, UNPP 2.8%, NPD 1.9%, APGA 1.6%, PRP 0.8%;
  • seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6, UNPP 2, APGA 2, NPD 1, PRP 1, vacant 1

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court (judges recommended by the National Judicial Council and appointed by the president);
  • Federal Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the federal government from a pool of judges recommended by the National Judicial Council)

Political parties and leaders

  • Accord Party [Ikra Aliyu BILBIS];
  • Action Congress or AC [Hassan ZUMI];
  • Alliance for Democracy or AD [Mojisoluwa AKINFENWA];
  • All Nigeria Peoples' Party or ANPP [Edwin UME-EZEOKE];
  • All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor C. UMEH];
  • Democratic People's Party or DPP [Jeremiah USENI];
  • Fresh Democratic Party [Chris OKOTIE];
  • Labor Party [Dan NWANYANWU];
  • Movement for the Restoration and Defense of Democracy or MRDD [Mohammed Gambo JIMETA];
  • National Democratic Party or NDP [Aliyu Habu FARI];
  • Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Vincent OGBULAFOR];
  • Peoples Progressive Alliance [Clement EBRI];
  • Peoples Redemption Party or PRP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA];
  • Peoples Salvation Party or PSP [Lawal MAITURARE];
  • United Nigeria Peoples Party or UNPP [Mallam Selah JAMBO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • Academic Staff Union for Universities or ASUU;
  • Campaign for Democracy or CD;
  • Civil Liberties Organization or CLO;
  • Committee for the Defense of Human Rights or CDHR;
  • Constitutional Right Project or CRP;
  • Human Right Africa;
  • National Association of Democratic Lawyers or NADL;
  • National Association of Nigerian Students or NANS;
  • Nigerian Bar Association or NBA;
  • Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC;
  • Nigerian Medical Association or NMA;
  • the Press;
  • Universal Defenders of Democracy or UDD

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Baba Gana WIKIL
chancery:
3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 986-8400
FAX:
[1] (202) 775-1385
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Robin SANDERS
embassy:
1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja
mailing address:
P. O. Box 5760, Garki, Abuja
telephone:
[234] (9) 461-4000
FAX:
[234] (9) 461-4036

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green

Economy

Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic management, has undertaken several reforms over the past decade.

51 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$336.2billion
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 36$319.3 billion (2007 est.) · $300.1 billion (2006 est.)note: data are in 2008 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $207.1 billion (2008 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,300
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 182$2,200 (2007 est.) · $2,100 (2006 est.)note: data are in 2008 US dollars
Real growth rate
5.3%
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 826.4% (2007 est.) · 6.2% (2006 est.)industrial production growth: 2.8% (2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 88
Inflation, consumer prices
11.6%
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 1675.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2008 est.)

agriculture 18.1%industry 50.8%services 31.1% (2008 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

41.4%
US
8.4%
China
13.8%
10.4%
India
Netherlands
9.6%
9.4%
Brazil
7.2%
Spain
UK
5.3%
South Korea
5.2%
4.6%
France
4.3%
Exports $76.03 billion (2008 est.)Imports $46.3 billion (2008 est.)(2008)

Budget

Revenues
$19.76 billionExpenditures
$24.72 billion (2008 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
21.92 billion (2007 est.)Electricity consumption
19.21 billion (2007 est.)

Economy - overview

Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic management, has undertaken several reforms over the past decade. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from its overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 95% of foreign exchange earnings and about 80% of budgetary revenues.

Following the signing of an IMF stand-by agreement in August 2000, Nigeria received a debt-restructuring deal from the Paris Club and a $1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on economic reforms. Nigeria pulled out of its IMF program in April 2002, after failing to meet spending and exchange rate targets, making it ineligible for additional debt forgiveness from the Paris Club.

Since 2008 the government has begun showing the political will to implement the market-oriented reforms urged by the IMF, such as to modernize the banking system, to curb inflation by blocking excessive wage demands, and to resolve regional disputes over the distribution of earnings from the oil industry.

In 2003, the government began deregulating fuel prices, announced the privatization of the country's four oil refineries, and instituted the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, a domestically designed and run program modeled on the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility for fiscal and monetary management.

In November 2005, Abuja won Paris Club approval for a debt-relief deal that eliminated $18 billion of debt in exchange for $12 billion in payments - a total package worth $30 billion of Nigeria's total $37 billion external debt. The deal requires Nigeria to be subject to stringent IMF reviews.

Based largely on increased oil exports and high global crude prices, GDP rose strongly in 2007 and 2008. President YAR'ADUA has pledged to continue the economic reforms of his predecessor with emphasis on infrastructure improvements. Infrastructure is the main impediment to growth. The government is working toward developing stronger public-private partnerships for electricity and roads.

Labor force

51.04 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
70%
industry:
10%
services:
20% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2%
highest 10%:
32.4% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

43.7 (2003) · 50.6 (1997) country comparison to the world: 48

Investment (gross fixed)

21.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Public debt

13.4% of GDP (2008 est.) · 20% of GDP (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Central bank discount rate

9.75% (31 December 2008) · 9.5% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 46

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.48% (31 December 2008) · 16.94% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 31

Stock of money

$35.29 billion (31 December 2008) · $26.82 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 25

Stock of quasi money

$32.04 billion (31 December 2008) · $22.78 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 36

Stock of domestic credit

$49.51 billion (31 December 2008) · $35.68 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 49

Market value of publicly traded shares

$49.8 billion (31 December 2008) · $86.35 billion (31 December 2007) · $32.82 billion (31 December 2006) country comparison to the world: 51

Agriculture - products

  • cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber;
  • cattle, sheep, goats, pigs;
  • timber;
  • fish

Industries

  • crude oil, coal, tin, columbite;
  • palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood;
  • hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel, small commercial ship construction and repair

Oil - production

2.169 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Oil - consumption

286,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Oil - exports

2.327 million bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Oil - imports

170,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Oil - proved reserves

36.22 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Natural gas - production

32.82 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Natural gas - consumption

12.28 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Natural gas - exports

20.55 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 11

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.215 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Current account balance

$3.877 billion (2008 est.) · $2.203 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Exports

$76.03 billion (2008 est.) · $61.82 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Imports

$46.3 billion (2008 est.) · $38.8 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Imports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$53 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $51.33 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Debt - external

$9.996 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $8.007 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$68.84 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $58.84 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$13.02 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $12.72 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Exchange rates

nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 117.8 (2008 est.), 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006), 132.59 (2005), 132.89 (2004)

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
62.988 million
(2008)
Internet users
1,098
(2009)
Fixed lines
1.308 million
(2008) · country code .ng

Telephone system

general assessment:
further expansion and modernization of the fixed-line telephone network is needed
domestic:
  • the addition of a second fixed-line provider in 2002 resulted in faster growth but subscribership remains only about 1 per 100 persons;
  • mobile-cellular services growing rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network;
  • multiple cellular service providers operate nationally with subscribership reaching 45 per 100 persons in 2008
international:
  • country code - 234;
  • landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;
  • satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations and 15 repeater stations) (2001)

Internet users

11 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 29

Transportation

11 fields

Merchant marine, 68 ships by typeone square, one ship

cargo 4chemical tanker 12combination ore/oil 1liquefied gas 2passenger/cargo 1petroleum tanker 46specialized tanker 2foreign-owned: 3 (Japan 1, South Africa 1, Spain 1) · registered in other countries: 34 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 11, Cook Islands 1, Georgia 1, Italy 1, Liberia 2, Panama 10, Poland 1, Seychelles 1, Sierra Leone 1, unknown 3) (2008)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
7under 914 m
3

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
3

Networkskm

Roadways
193,200Railways
3,505Waterways
8,600 (2008)
Roadways: paved: 28,980 km · unpaved: 164,220 km (2004) · Railways: narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2008) · Waterways: (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks)

Airports

56 (2009) country comparison to the world: 83

Heliports

3 (2009)

Pipelines

  • condensate 21 km;
  • gas 2,560 km;
  • liquid petroleum gas 97 km;
  • oil 3,396 km;
  • refined products 4,090 km (2008)

Railways

total:
3,505 km

country comparison to the world: 49

narrow gauge:
3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total:
193,200 km

country comparison to the world: 27

paved:
28,980 km
unpaved:
164,220 km (2004)

Waterways

8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks) (2008) country comparison to the world: 15

Ports and terminals

Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos

Transportation - note

  • the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships;
  • numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
  • crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Military

Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2008)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.5%of GDP
(2006)country comparison to the world: 108

Military branches

Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2008)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
31,929,204
females age 16-49:
30,638,979 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
19,763,535
females age 16-49:
18,850,650 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
1,697,030
female:
1,618,561 (2009 est.)

Transnational Issues

3 fields

Disputes - international

  • Joint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phase-out of Nigerian control within two years while resolving patriation issues;
  • the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in implementation;
  • only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin):
5,778 (Liberia)
IDPs:
undetermined (communal violence between Christians and Muslims since President OBASANJO's election in 1999; displacement is mostly short-term) (2007)

Illicit drugs

  • a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets;
  • consumer of amphetamines;
  • safe haven for Nigerian narcotraffickers operating worldwide;
  • major money-laundering center;
  • massive corruption and criminal activity;
  • Nigeria has improved some anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in June 2006;
  • Nigeria's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Nigeria.” The World Factbook 2009. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/nigeria/2009.