Nigeria

Federal Republic of Nigeria

federal republicIndependence 1 October 1960 (from the UK)

Nigeria as the 2015 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 168 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
181.56 million July 2015 est. · 118.82m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.45% 2015 est. · 3.13% in 1993
Median ageyears
18.2 years 2014 est. · 18 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
53.02 years 2015 est. · 54.7 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
5.19 children per woman 2015 est. · 6.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
72.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 2015 est. · 119 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$6,000 2014 est. · $300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
6.3% 2014 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 and the elections of 2011 were generally regarded as credible. In January 2014, Nigeria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2014-15 term.

Geography

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

20 fields
Area
923,768sq km
land: 910,768 sq kmwater: 13,000 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 32slightly 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
4,477km
border countries (4): Benin 809 km, Cameroon 1,975 km, Chad 85 km, Niger 1,608 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

Land use

agricultural land:
78%;
  • arable land 37.3%;
  • permanent crops 7.4%;
  • permanent pasture 33.3%
forest:
9.5%
other:
12.5% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

2,932 sq km (2004)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
13.11 cu km/yr (31%/15%/54%)
per capita:
89.21 cu m/yr (2005)

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

People and Society

34 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2015 est.)

2,687,373
65 and over3.11%
2,952,864
3,491,784
55-643.94%
3,669,348
28,470,583
25-5430.56%
27,018,101
17,978,154
15-2419.38%
17,210,308
39,960,275
0-1443.01%
38,123,266
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 87.7% · youth dependency ratio: 82.6% · elderly dependency ratio: 5.1% · potential support ratio: 19.5% (2015 est.)
Population
181,562,056
country comparison to the world: 8growth rate: 2.45% (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 33
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 2015 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2015 est.)

Birth
37.64Death
12.9Net migration
-0.22

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2015 est.)53.02
52 · 54.1Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)72.7
77.55 · 67.55Literacy (2015 est.)59.6%
69.2% · 49.7%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2014 est.)18.2
18.1 · 18.3School life expectancy years (2005)9
10 · 8
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 213 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 10 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

Muslim 50%Christian 40%indigenous beliefs 10%
Urban population
47.8%of total population
(2015)rate of urbanization: 4.66% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major urban areas - population: Lagos 13.123 million; Kano 3.587 million; Ibadan 3.16 million; ABUJA (capital) 2.44 million; Port Harcourt 2.343 million; Benin City 1.496 million (2015)
Improved drinking water
68.5%of population
urban: 80.8% of populationrural: 57.3% of populationurban: 19.2% of populationrural: 42.7% of populationtotal: 31.5% of population (2015 est.)
Improved sanitation
29%of population
urban: 32.8% of populationrural: 25.4% of populationurban: 67.2% of populationrural: 74.6% of populationtotal: 71% of population (2015 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
9.7%
(2014)country comparison to the world: 146

Nationality

noun:
Nigerian(s)
adjective:
Nigerian

Ethnic groups

  • Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups;
  • the most populous and politically influential are:
    • Hausa and the 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, over 500 additional indigenous languages

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.91 male(s)/female
total population:
1.04 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.19 children born/woman (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Health expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2013) country comparison to the world: 109

Physicians density

0.41 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Hospital bed density

0.53 beds/1,000 population (2004)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.17% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,228,600 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

HIV/AIDS - deaths

209,600 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact diseases:
leptospirosis and schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:
meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease:
one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever
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 (2013)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

31% (2013) country comparison to the world: 12

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number:
11,396,823
percentage:
29% (2007 est.)

Government

Federal republic; President Maj. Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); President Maj.Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

53%
Muhammadu BUHARI (CPC) 53%Goodluck JONATHAN (PDP) 46%election last held on 28-29 March 2015 (next to be held in February 2019)

Senate, 360 seats, elected 28-29 March 2015seats by party

All Progressive Congress 225PDP 125other 10

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, Nasarawa, 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

  • several previous;
  • latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999;
  • amended 2010 (2010)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Maj. Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Maj.Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015)
cabinet:
Federal Executive Council appointed by the president
elections/appointments:
  • president directly elected by 'qualified' majority popular vote and at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states;
  • president elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term);
  • election last held on 28-29 March 2015 (next to be held in February 2019)
election results:
Muhammadu BUHARI elected president; percent of vote - Muhammadu BUHARI (CPC) 53%, Goodluck JONATHAN (PDP) 46%

Legislative branch

description:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109 seats - 3 each for the 36 states and 1 for Abuja; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) and the House of Representatives (360 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections:
Senate - last held on 28-29 March 2015 (next to be held in February 2019); House of Representatives - last held on 28-29 March 2015 (next to be held in 2019)
election results:
  • Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - All Progressive Congress 60, PDP 49;
  • House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - All Progressive Congress 225, PDP 125, other 10

Judicial branch

highest court(s):
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 15 justices)
judge selection and term of office:
  • judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a 23-member independent body of federal and state judicial officials;
  • judge appointments confirmed by the Senate;
  • judges serve until age 65
subordinate courts:
  • Court of Appeal;
  • Federal High Court;
  • High Court of the Federal Capital Territory;
  • Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory;
  • Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory;
  • state court system similar in structure to federal system

Political parties and leaders

  • Accord Party or ACC [Mohammad Lawal MALADO]
  • Action Congress of Nigeria or ACN [Adebisi Bamidele AKANDE]
  • All Nigeria Peoples Party or ANPP [Ogbonnaya C. ONU]
  • All Progressives Congress [Adebisi Bamidele AKANDE, acting]
  • All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor C. UMEH]
  • Congress for Progressive Change or CPC [Tony MOMOH]
  • Democratic Peoples Party or DPP [Biodun OGUNBIYI]
  • Labor Party or LP [Chief Dan NWANYANWU]
  • Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Adamu MU'AZU]

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; Universal Defenders of Democracy or UDD; other: the press

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, D-8, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo ADEFUYE (since 26 March 2010)
chancery:
3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 986-8400
FAX:
[1] (202) 362-6541
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador James F. ENTWISTLE (since 26 November 2013)
embassy:
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja
mailing address:
P. O. Box 5760, Garki, Abuja
telephone:
[234] (9) 461-4000
FAX:
[234] (9) 461-4171

Flag description

  • three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green;
  • the color green represents the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, white stands for peace and unity

National symbol(s)

eagle; national colors: green, white

National anthem

name:
"Arise Oh Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey"
lyrics/music:
John A. ILECHUKWU, Eme Etim AKPAN, B. A. OGUNNAIKE, Sotu OMOIGUI and P. O. ADERIBIGBE/Benedict Elide ODIASE

note: adopted 1978; lyrics are a mixture of the five top entries in a national contest

Economy

Following an April 2014 statistical "rebasing" exercise, Nigeria has emerged as Africa's largest economy, with 2014 GDP estimated at US$479 billion.

41 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$1.049trillion
(2014 est.) · $986.8 billion (2013 est.) · $936.3 billion (2012 est.)note: data are in 2014 US dollarscountry comparison to the world: 21official exchange rate: $573.7 billion (2014 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$6,000
(2014 est.) · $5,700 (2013 est.) · $5,400 (2012 est.)note: data are in 2014 US dollarscountry comparison to the world: 159
Real growth rate
6.3%
(2014 est.) · 5.4% (2013 est.) · 4.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 19industrial production growth: 4.6% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 57
Inflation, consumer prices
8.1%
(2014 est.) · 8.5% (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 202

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2014 est.)

agriculture 20.6%industry 25.6%services 53.8% (2014 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

China
20.8%
12.8%
India
4.5%
11.1%
US
11.2%
10%
Brazil
7.1%
Spain
7.1%
Netherlands
5.1%
Germany
4.7%
France
4.5%
UK
4.2%
South Africa
Exports $93.01 billion (2014 est.)Imports $52.79 billion (2014 est.)(2013)

By end use% of GDP

Household consumption
72.5%Government consumption
8.4%Fixed capital
16.4%Inventories
0%Exports
14.9%Imports
-12.1%
(2014 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$22.77 billionExpenditures
$34.62 billion (2014 est.)

Economy - overview

Following an April 2014 statistical "rebasing" exercise, Nigeria has emerged as Africa's largest economy, with 2014 GDP estimated at US$479 billion. Oil has been a dominant source of government revenues since the 1970s. Regulatory constraints and security risks have limited new investment in oil and natural gas, and Nigeria's oil production contracted in 2012 and 2013.

Nevertheless, the Nigerian economy has continued to grow at a rapid 6%-8% per annum (pre-rebasing), driven by growth in agriculture, telecommunications, and services, and the medium-term outlook for Nigeria is good, assuming oil output stabilizes and oil prices remain strong. Fiscal authorities pursued countercyclical policies in 2011-13, significantly reducing the budget deficit.

Monetary policy has also been contractionary. Following the 2008-9 global financial crises, the banking sector was effectively recapitalized and regulation enhanced. Despite its strong fundamentals, oil-rich Nigeria has been hobbled by inadequate power supply, lack of infrastructure, delays in the passage of legislative reforms, an inefficient property registration system, restrictive trade policies, an inconsistent regulatory environment, a slow and ineffective judicial system, unreliable dispute resolution mechanisms, insecurity, and pervasive corruption.

Economic diversification and strong growth have not translated into a significant decline in poverty levels - over 62% of Nigeria's 170 million people live in extreme poverty. President JONATHAN has established an economic team that includes experienced and reputable members and has announced plans to increase transparency, continue to diversify production, and further improve fiscal management. The government is working to develop stronger public-private partnerships for roads, agriculture, and power.

Gross national saving

17.4% of GDP (2014 est.) · 18.6% of GDP (2013 est.) · 19.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

  • crude oil, coal, tin, columbite;
  • rubber products, wood;
  • hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel

Labor force

54.97 million (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

23.9% (2011 est.) · 4.9% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
1.8%
highest 10%:
38.2% (2010 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

43.7 (2003) · 50.6 (1997) country comparison to the world: 47

Taxes and other revenues

3.8% of GDP (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2% of GDP (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Public debt

11.7% of GDP (2014 est.) · 10.5% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Fiscal year

calendar year

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010) · 6% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 89

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17% (31 December 2014 est.) · 16.72% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Stock of narrow money

$45.44 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $44.59 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Stock of broad money

$108.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $99.64 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Stock of domestic credit

$119.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $109.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Market value of publicly traded shares

$56.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $39.27 billion (31 December 2011) · $50.88 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Current account balance

$12.67 billion (2014 est.) · $21.85 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Exports

$93.01 billion (2014 est.) · $96.74 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber (2012 est.)

Imports

$52.79 billion (2014 est.) · $51.38 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$37.44 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $45.66 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Debt - external

$22.01 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $18.63 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$81.72 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $76.75 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$10.87 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $9.113 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Exchange rates

nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 157.3 (2014 est.) · 157.31 (2013 est.) · 156.81 (2012 est.) · 154.7 (2011 est.) · 150.3 (2010 est.)

Energy

23 fields

Installed generating capacity, 5.9 million kW(2011 est.)

Fossil fuels 67.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)Hydroelectric plants 32.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)Nuclear fuels 0% · Other renewable sources 0%
Electricity production
25.7 billion (2011 est.)Electricity consumption
23.11 billion (2011 est.)Refined petroleum imports
151,700 (2010 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
302,000 (2013 est.)Refined petroleum production
101,300 (2010 est.)Refined petroleum exports
18,750 (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

2.367 million bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Crude oil - exports

2.341 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Crude oil - proved reserves

37.14 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Natural gas - production

33.71 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Natural gas - consumption

6.916 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Natural gas - exports

26.79 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.118 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

86.4 million Mt (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Communications

8 fields

Per 100 inhabitants(2014 est.)

78Mobile cellular
37.6%Internet users, % of population
<1Fixed lines
Mobile cellular
139 million
(2014 est.)
Internet users
66.6 million
(2014 est.)
Fixed lines
180,000
(2014 est.) · country code .ng

Telephone system

general assessment:
further expansion and modernization of the fixed-line telephone network is needed; network quality remains a problem
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 providers operate nationally with subscribership base approaching 60 per 100 persons
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) (2010)

Broadcast media

  • nearly 70 federal government-controlled national and regional TV stations;
  • all 36 states operate TV stations;
  • several private TV stations operational;
  • cable and satellite TV subscription services are available;
  • network of federal government-controlled national, regional, and state radio stations;
  • roughly 40 state government-owned radio stations typically carry their own programs except for news broadcasts;
  • about 20 private radio stations;
  • transmissions of international broadcasters are available (2007)

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)

Transportation

11 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

10
over 3,047 m
12
2,438 to 3,047 m
9
1,524 to 2,437 m
2
6
914 to 1,523 m
9
3
under 914 m
Paved 40Unpaved 143 (2013)

Networkskm

Roadways
193,200Railways
3,798Waterways
8,600 (2011)
Roadways: paved: 28,980 km · unpaved: 164,220 km (2004) · Railways: standard gauge: 293 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) · Waterways: (Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks)

Airports

54 (2013) country comparison to the world: 88

Heliports

5 (2013)

Pipelines

  • condensate 124 km;
  • gas 4,045 km;
  • liquid petroleum gas 164 km;
  • oil 4,441 km;
  • refined products 3,940 km (2013)

Railways

total:
3,798 km
standard gauge:
293 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:
3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

country comparison to the world: 50

Roadways

total:
193,200 km
paved:
28,980 km
unpaved:
164,220 km (2004)

country comparison to the world: 27

Waterways

8,600 km (Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks) (2011) country comparison to the world: 15

Merchant marine

total:
89
by type:
cargo 2, chemical tanker 28, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 56, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned:
3 (India 1, UK 2)
registered in other countries:
33 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 11, Comoros 1, Italy 1, Liberia 4, North Korea 1, Panama 6, Seychelles 1, unknown 6) (2010)

country comparison to the world: 54

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s):
Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos
LNG terminal(s) (export):
Bonny Island

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 of ships;
  • in 2012, 27 commercial vessels were boarded or attacked compared with 10 attacks in 2011;
  • crews were robbed and stores or cargoes stolen;
  • Nigerian pirates have extended the range of their attacks to as far away as Cote d'Ivoire

Military

Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2013)

6 fields
Military expenditures
0.89%of GDP
(2012) · 0.98% of GDP (2011) · 0.89% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 108

Military branches

Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2013)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
37,087,711
females age 16-49:
35,232,127 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
20,839,976
females age 16-49:
19,867,683 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
1,767,428
female:
1,687,719 (2010 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 phaseout 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;
  • location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 1,538,982 (Boko Haram attacks and counterinsurgency efforts in northern Nigeria; communal violence between Christians and Muslims in the middle belt region, political violence; flooding; forced evictions; cattle rustling; competition for resources) (2015)

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 2015. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/nigeria/2015.