NigeriaNigeriaThe Federal The Federal Republic of Republic of Nigeria, is a Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Capital Territory

From 1851 to 1960 From 1851 to 1960 Nigeria was a Crown Nigeria was a Crown Colony of the British Colony of the British Empire.Empire.

Colonial Colonial heritageheritage

LagosLagos

Crammed, Crammed, dirty, and dirty, and corrupt, Lagos corrupt, Lagos was the was the colonial capital colonial capital and primary and primary shipping port shipping port for goods for goods exported from exported from Nigeria’s Nigeria’s exploited exploited heartland.heartland.

Lagos is the home for nearly 20 million people.Lagos is the home for nearly 20 million people.

IMFIMF

Nigeria is among the countries the IMF considers Nigeria is among the countries the IMF considers most at risk. This woman sells fruit in Lagos.most at risk. This woman sells fruit in Lagos.

Containers are stacked high in this recent photo of the Nigeria port of Apapa. Courtesy of AFP/Getty

In 1976, it was decided to move In 1976, it was decided to move the national capital from the port the national capital from the port city of Lagos to a new city city of Lagos to a new city located near the centre of the located near the centre of the country.country.

AbujaAbuja

The current president of The current president of Nigeria was elected in Nigeria was elected in 2007. He presides as 2007. He presides as both Chief of State and both Chief of State and Head of Government and Head of Government and is elected by popular is elected by popular vote to a maximum of vote to a maximum of two four-year termstwo four-year terms.

UmaruUmaru Musa Musa Yar'AduaYar'Adua

Bantu migrationsBantu migrations

Nigeria is believed to Nigeria is believed to be the original be the original homeland of the homeland of the Bantu migrants who Bantu migrants who spread across most spread across most of central and southern of central and southern Africa in waves in the Africa in waves in the 3000-year time period 3000-year time period preceding 1100 C.E.preceding 1100 C.E.

Nigerian Oil

Since all effort Since all effort was put into was put into developing this developing this profitable profitable resource, other resource, other economic sectors, economic sectors, like agriculture like agriculture and mining, were and mining, were neglected.neglected.

Nigeria’s economy is Nigeria’s economy is centered around oil… centered around oil… unfortunately.unfortunately.

Drilling for oilDrilling for oil

Oil drilling rigs, like Oil drilling rigs, like this one in the Soku oil this one in the Soku oil field is one of the field is one of the many the Dutch-based many the Dutch-based Shell Oil has in Shell Oil has in Nigeria.Nigeria. Many blame Many blame Shell, however, for the Shell, however, for the widespread pollution widespread pollution (below)(below) of its of its environment and environment and corruption of its corruption of its government.government.

EconomyEconomy

The country also The country also wound up being wound up being heavily in debt to heavily in debt to other nations and other nations and with a corrupt with a corrupt government that government that mismanaged mismanaged funds (those that funds (those that weren’t embezzled weren’t embezzled anyway).anyway).

Once they’re done, poor people come along to collect the oil in anything they can find so they can resell it.

Fires are often caused Fires are often caused when bandits, military, when bandits, military, and corrupt government and corrupt government officials tap the pipelines officials tap the pipelines in order to siphon off oil in order to siphon off oil or gas that they then sell.or gas that they then sell.

Nigerian produces 2.256 million barrels of oil a day.

Oil theft and Oil theft and sabotage is a daily sabotage is a daily problem.problem.

Stolen Stolen crudecrude

Many feel that corporate links to military Many feel that corporate links to military power keeps Nigeria subjugated to oil interestspower keeps Nigeria subjugated to oil interests.

Reform Reform effortsefforts

Only recently has the government started making Only recently has the government started making reforms to get the country out of debt and reforms to get the country out of debt and restructure the economy thanks to the International restructure the economy thanks to the International Monetary Fund ’s Monetary Fund ’s Public Support Instrument (PSI).

Workers on an oil rig Workers on an oil rig in Nigeria where in Nigeria where prudent management prudent management of oil savings and of oil savings and revenues is key to revenues is key to unleashing country's unleashing country's potential and to potential and to reducing poverty. reducing poverty. (photo: AFP)(photo: AFP)

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, a The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, a nationalized state corporation manages all joint nationalized state corporation manages all joint ventures between foreign multi-national ventures between foreign multi-national corporations and the Nigerian federal government. corporations and the Nigerian federal government.

Joint VenturesJoint Ventures

In 2003 a joint venture In 2003 a joint venture was established in was established in Lagos, Nigeria to form Lagos, Nigeria to form DeltaAfrik Engineering DeltaAfrik Engineering Ltd. Ltd. 

YorubaYorubaOne of the largest One of the largest ethno-linguistic or ethno-linguistic or ethnic groups in West ethnic groups in West Africa, with nearly 30 Africa, with nearly 30 million individuals the million individuals the Yoruba are found Yoruba are found predominantly in predominantly in Nigeria comprising Nigeria comprising approximately 21 approximately 21 percent of its total percent of its total population.population.

Yoruba bronze head Yoruba bronze head sculpture, Ife, Nigeria c. sculpture, Ife, Nigeria c. 12th century A.D. 12th century A.D.

Ife bronze casting of a Ife bronze casting of a Kings head currently in Kings head currently in the the British Museum

July 18, 2006—Traditional Ibo dancers perform at July 18, 2006—Traditional Ibo dancers perform at the Sullivan Summit luncheon in Abuja the Sullivan Summit luncheon in Abuja

IboIbo

A A Sahelian people people chiefly located in chiefly located in the the West African regions of regions of northern northern Nigeria and southeastern and southeastern Niger numbering numbering 30-35 million. 30-35 million.

HausaHausa

HausaHausa

Nigerian keyboard emphasizing the Hausa language.

Nobel-winning Nobel-winning author Wole author Wole Soyinka delivers a Soyinka delivers a lecture at the lecture at the HagueHague

Nigeria LinksNigeria Links• http://graodeareia-attac.weblog.com.pt/arquivo/153131.htmlhttp://graodeareia-attac.weblog.com.pt/arquivo/153131.html• CIA World CIA World FactbookFactbook/Nigeria/Nigeria• AfrikaAfrika/Index/Nigeria/Index/Nigeria• BBC.comBBC.com/Nigeria/Country Profile/Nigeria/Country Profile• BBC.comBBC.com/Nigeria/oil violence Q&A/Nigeria/oil violence Q&A• BBC.comBBC.com/Nigeria/historical timeline/Nigeria/historical timeline• National Geographic Map Machine/NigeriaNational Geographic Map Machine/Nigeria• Christian Science Monitor/Islam & Christianity blendingChristian Science Monitor/Islam & Christianity blending• Population Population PyramidPyramid/Nigeria/Nigeria• IMF.org/survey/so/2008/NigeriaOilIMF.org/survey/so/2008/NigeriaOil• http://www.nigerianembassy.nl/Soyinka1.htmhttp://www.nigerianembassy.nl/Soyinka1.htm• CNN/Nigeria/Free CNN/Nigeria/Free filipinosfilipinos• MSUglobalaccess/NigeriaMSUglobalaccess/Nigeria• newspaper/Nigerian Guardiannewspaper/Nigerian Guardian• Chiamaka.com/igbonames.htmlChiamaka.com/igbonames.html• Worley Parsons.com/GlobalPresence/AfricaWorley Parsons.com/GlobalPresence/Africa