Nigeria

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 82, FM 35, shortwave 11 (1998)

Radios

23.5 million (1997)

Telephone system

an inadequate system, further limited by poor maintenance; major expansion is required and a start has been made domestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, a domestic communications satellite system with 19 earth stations, and a coastal submarine cable; mobile cellular facilities and the Internet are available international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); coaxial submarine cable SAFE (South African Far East)

Telephones - main lines in use

405,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

10,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

2 government-controlled; note - in addition, in 1993, 14 licenses to operate private television stations were granted (1999)

Televisions

6.9 million (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

1 naira (N) = 100 kobo

Debt - external

$29 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$39.2 million (1995)

Economy - overview

The oil-rich Nigerian economy, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management, is undergoing substantial economic reform under the new civilian administration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has not kept up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. In 2000, Nigeria is likely to receive a debt-restructuring deal with the Paris club and a $1 billion loan from the IMF, both contingent on economic reforms. Increased foreign investment combined with high world oil prices should push growth to over 5% in 2000-01.

Electricity - consumption

13.717 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

14.75 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 61.69% hydro: 38.31% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates

nairas (N) per US$1 - 96.261 (October 1999), 99 (1999), 21.886 (1998), 21.886 (1997), 21.895 (1995)

Exports

$13.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Exports - partners

US 35%, Spain 11%, India 9%, France 6%, Italy (1998 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $110.5 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 33% industry: 42% services: 25% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $970 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.7% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 31.4% (1992-93)

Imports

$10 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

UK 13%, US 12%, Germany 10%, France 9%, Netherlands (1998 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.5% (1999 est.)

Labor force

42.844 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 54%, industry 6%, services 40% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

34.1% (1992-93 est.)

Unemployment rate

28% (1992 est.)

Area

total: 923,768 sq km land: 910,768 sq km water: 13,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of California

Climate

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

Coastline

853 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m

Environment - current issues

soil degradation; rapid deforestation; desertification; recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

10 00 N, 8 00 E

Irrigated land

9,570 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 4,047 km border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km

Land use

arable land: 33% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 44% forests and woodland: 12% other: 8% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

periodic droughts

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Federal Capital Territory*, 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

Capital

Abuja note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in Abuja

Constitution

NA 1999 new constitution adopted

Country name

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

Data code

NI

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador William H. TWADDELL embassy: 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Lagos mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos telephone: [234] (1) 261-0097 FAX: [234] (1) 261-0257

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jibril AMINU chancery: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400 FAX: [1] (202) 775-1385 consulate(s) general: Atlanta and New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Federal Executive Council elections: president is elected by popular vote for no more than two four-year terms; election last held 27 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) elected president; percent of vote - Olusegun OBASANJO 62.8%, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) 37.2%

Flag description

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

Government type

republic transitioning from military to civilian rule

Independence

1 October 1960 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Provisional Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee

Legal system

based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (109 seats, three from each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory; 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 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003); House of Representatives - last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 58%, APP 23%, AD 19%; seats by party - PDP 65, APP 24, AD 20; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 58%, APP 30%, AD 12%; seats by party - PDP 215, APP 75, AD 70

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (1960)

Political parties and leaders

All People's Party or APP [Alhaji Yusuf ALI]; Alliance for Democracy or AD [Yusuf MAMMAN]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Barnabas GEMADE]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999 and a peaceful transition to civilian government completed. The new 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.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$236 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.7% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 29,082,802 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 16,708,344 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 1,360,023 (2000 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 44% (male 27,181,020; female 26,872,317) 15-64 years: 53% (male 33,495,794; female 32,337,193) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,729,149; female 1,722,349) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

40.16 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

13.72 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Nigeria, which is 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%

Infant mortality rate

74.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 51.56 years male: 51.58 years female: 51.55 years (2000 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.1% male: 67.3% female: 47.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian

Net migration rate

0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

123,337,822 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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.67% (2000 est.)

Religions

Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.66 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, has been completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Cameroon over land and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula is currently before the ICJ; maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea

Illicit drugs

facilitates movement of heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America; increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

71 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 37 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 18 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Highways

total: 194,394 km paved: 60,068 km (including 1,194 km of expressways) unpaved: 134,326 km (1998 est.) note: many of the roads reported as paved may be graveled; because of poor maintenance and years of heavy freight traffic (in part the result of the failure of the railroad system), much of the road system is barely usable

Merchant marine

total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 360,505 GRT/644,471 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 4, petroleum tanker 22, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 2,042 km; petroleum products 3,000 km; natural gas 500 km

Ports and harbors

Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri

Railways

total: 3,557 km narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge note: years of neglect of both the rolling stock and the right-of-way have seriously reduced the capacity and utility of the system; a project to restore Nigeria's railways is now underway

Waterways

8,575 km consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks