NIGERIA: COUNTRY PROFILE, THE LAND AND PEOPLE FACT FILE

Area:
923,766 sq.km.
Population:
150 million (estimate)
Capital:
Abuja
Government:
Three-tier structure - A Federal Government, 36 State Governments, 774 Local Government
Administrations
Official Language:
English
Main Indigenous Languages:
Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba
Main Religions:
Christianity, Islam, Traditional
Main Commercial/Industrial Cities:
Lagos, Onitsha, Kano, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Aba, Maiduguri, Jos, Kaduna, Warri, Benin,Nnewi
Major Industrial Complexes:
Refineries and Petro-Chemicals: Kaduna, Warri, Port Harcourt, Eleme. Iron and Steel: Ajaokuta,
Warri, Oshogbo, Katsina, Jos. Fertilizer: Onne- Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Minna, Kano Liquified
Natural Gas : Bonny Aluminium Smelter: Ikot Abasi, Port Harcourt
Main Ports:
Lagos (Apapa, Tin-can Island), Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne Deep Sea and Hub Port, Calabar (EPZ)
Main Airports:
Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Ilorin, Jos, Owerri, Calabar, Yola,
Sokoto
Road Network:
Over 15,000 km of intercity all weather paved roads, including dual carriage express trunks.
Railways:
2 main lines (South-West to North-East; South-East to North-West) inter-linked and terminatory at
Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaura Namoda, Maiduguri and Nguru. Major junctions at Kaduna, Kafanchan,
Zaria. Gauge: 1067mm; Total length 3505 route km
Energy:
Hydro-electric: Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro. Thermal and Gas: Egbin (Lagos), Ughelli, Afam, Sapele,
National grid for electricity distribution; National pipeline network with regional depots for
petroleum products distribution; National network (pipeline) for distribution of gas (under
construction)
Currency:
NAIRA and KOBO N100.00 = Rs. 22 (one naira = 22 Rupees)

GEOGRAPHY
Nigeria is situated in the West African region and lies between longitudes 3 degrees and 14
degrees and latitudes 4 degrees and 140 degrees. It has a land mass of 923,768 sq.km.. It is
bordered to the north by the Republics of Niger and Tchad. It shares borders to the west with the
Republic of Benin, while the Republic of Cameroun shares the eastern borders right down to the
shores of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the southern limits of Nigerian Territory. The about
800km of coastline confers on the country the potentials of a maritime power. Land is in
abundance in Nigeria for agricultural, industrial and commercial activities.
CLIMATE
Temperatures across the country is relatively high with a very narrow variation in seasonal and
diurnal ranges (22-36t). There are two basic seasons; wet season which lasts from April to
October; and the dry season which lasts from November till March. The dry season commences
with Harmattan, a dry chilly spell that lasts till February and is associated with lower
temperatures, a dusty and hazy atmosphere brought about by the North-Easterly winds blowing
from the Arabian peninsular across the Sahara; the second half of the dry season, February March, is the hottest period of the year when temperatures range from 33 to 38 degrees
centigrade. The extremes of the wet season are felt on the southeastern coast where annual
rainfall might reach a high of 330cm; while the extremes of the dry season, in aridity and high
temperatures, are felt in the north third of the country.
VEGETATION
In line with the rainfall distribution, a wetter south and a drier northern half, there are two broad
vegetation types: Forests and Savanna. There are three variants of each, running as near parallel
bands east to west across the country. Forests Savanna Saline water swamp Guinea Savanna Fresh
water swamp Sudan Savanna Tropical (high) evergreen Sahel Savanna
Rainforest
There is also the mountain vegetation of the isolated high plateau regions on the far eastern
extremes of the country (Jos, Mambilla, Obudu).
The savanna, especially Guinea and Sudan, are the major grains, grasses, tubers, vegetable and
cotton growing regions.
The Tropical evergreen rain forest belt bears timber production and forest development,
production of cassava; and plantation growing of fruit trees - citrus, oil palm, cocoa, rubber,
among others.
POPULATION & LABOUR FORCE
Nigeria is famous for her huge population of about 150 million people - the largest national
population on the African continent. This population is made up of about 374 pure ethnic stocks.
Three of them, Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba are the major groups and constitute over 40 per cent of the
population. In fact, about 10 ethnic linguistic groups constitute more than 80% of the population:
the other large groups are Tiv, Ibibio, Ijaw, Kanuri, Nupe, Gwari, Igala, Jukun, Idoma, Fulani, Edo,
Urhobo and Ijaw. The gender divide of Nigeria's population, as indicated by the last census in
1991, reflects an unusual inbalance in favour of male dominance; 51% male: 49% female.
However, the more critical population indices concern

High growth rate - 3.2%; this is affected by decreased infant mortality and high fertility.

High school age population - over 47% are 15 years and below

High child dependency ratio - one dependant to one worker for the working age group 2565.

Large work force - working age group 15-59 is over 40 per cent of the population.
Due to a massive expansion in the education sector in the last two decades, the coloration and
quality of the Nigerian work force has changed to include a large corps of highly trained personnel
in mechanical, civil, electrical, electronics, chemical and petroleum engineering and biotechnics.
There are at present over 30 Federal and State Universities, some of them specialist -Technology
and Agriculture. In addition there are at least 20 Federal and State Polytechnics. Over 70,000
graduates in various disciplines from these institutions every year. Disciplines, apart from pure
sciences, engineering and technologies, include social sciences, business studies (management,
banking and finance), architecture, environment and urban management studies. Also, a sizeable
Nigerian population has been and is being trained outside the country, in some of the best colleges
in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, Japan and China.
Every year, about 2,000 of these Nigerians return home to seek employment or accommodation
within the economy.
For the less skilled and unskilled labour, the country depends on the primary and secondary school
systems whose annual enrolments are over 3.5 million and 1.5 million, respectively.
RESOURCES: AGRICULTURAL, MINERAL AND MARINE
Nigeria, in addition to its huge population is endowed with significant agricultural, mineral,
marine and forest resources. Its multiple vegetation zones, plentiful rain, surface water and
underground water resources and moderate climatic extremes, allow for production of diverse
food and cash crops. Over 60 per cent of the population is involved in the production of the food
crops such as cassava, maize, rice, yams, various beans and legumes, soya, sorghum, ginger,
onions, tomatoes, melons and vegetable. The main cash crops are cocoa, cotton, groundnuts, oil
palm and rubber. Extractions from these for export and local industrial use include cocoa flour and
butter, rubber crumb, vegetable oil, cotton fibre and yarn. The rain forests have been well
exploited for timber and wood products of exotic and popular species.
Oil and Gas, by value, are the most important minerals. They are exploited and produced in the
Niger Delta basin and off-shore on the continental shelf and in the deep-sea of the territorial
waters. Nevertheless, there are significant non-oil mineral deposits on land many of which have
been identified and evaluated: coal, iron ore, gypsum, kaolin, phosphates, lime -stone, marble,
columbine, baryte and gold.
GOVERNMENT
The Federal Republic of Nigeria consists of thirty-six states, and the administrative headquarters
and capital city is Abuja located in the Federal Capital Territory, which is geographically situated
in the middle of the country.
Effective participation in governance by all adults is assured through the sharing of powers,
revenue and responsibilities between the three tiers of government, i.e. the Federal Government,
the State Governments and the various Local and Municipal Councils of the federation.
THE
ECONOMY
With a population of over 120 million people, Nigeria is obviously the largest market in sub
Saharan Africa with reasonably skilled and potential manpower for the efficient and effective
management of investment projects within the country. It is well connected by a wide network of
motorable all-season roads, railway tracks, inland waterways, maritime and air transportation.

Nigeria's economy could be aptly described as most promising. It is a mixed economy and
accommodates all corners, individuals, corporate organisations and government agencies, to
invest in almost all range of economic activities. Since 1995, the Government has introduced some
bold economic measures, which have had a salutary effect on the economy by halting the
declining growth in the productive sectors and putting a stop to galloping inflation; they have
reduced the debt burden, stabilised the exchange rate of the Naira and corrected the balance of
payments disequilibrium.
In the 1995 and 1996 budgets, Government put in place some fiscal measures, which addressed
the exchange rate regime and the capital flight issue, which hitherto inhibited project planning
and execution. The policy of expanded production through guided deregulation paid off in 1996
when the economy recorded a real growth of 3.2% of GDP The rate of inflation declined
appreciably from the high seventies to the low twenties.
HEALTH
Prior to 1999, the major problem of the health sector in Nigeria was identified to be the mortality
rate among women and children due to preventable diseases, undernourishment, communication
of under five years, as well as inadequate and decaying health facilities. These problems were
further compounded, over the years, by inadequate funding, due to competing needs of other
sectors such as education, housing, agriculture etc.
However, each successful Administration usually rise to the occasion to stem the tide. The
National Program on Immunization was established to take care of the high mortality rate among
children, and eradicate communicable and vaccine-preventable diseases, and it has been highly
successful. Specific days of the year have been set aside by the Government, during which health
officials go from house to house to immunize children against major childhood diseases. Moreover,
the immunizations are readily available at various hospitals and health centers, at no cost to
parents. The Government is being assisted in this regard by many Non-Governmental Organizations
and International Agencies. The Rotary International, for example has committed millions of
dollars to the project known as "Kick Polio out of Africa campaign, the positive result of which
has been tremendous.
Other measures the Government has taken to enhance the quality of health of Nigerians are the
establishment of the National Action Committee on Aids (NACA) to combat the HIV/AIDS scourge,
the National Foods and Drugs Administration Commission (NAFDAC) which has brought
international recognition to Nigeria. The Government has equally set up the National Health
Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which is designed to make health-care affordable for all citizens by
making everyone contribute to the healthcare system, instead of putting the whole burden on
Government, as it is the case currently. The scheme will soon be operational.
To sustain improvements in health-care delivery, attention is being paid to the expansion and
strengthening of the primary health care system throughout the country. Family and reproductive
health services are being strengthened, with particular emphasis on fighting HIV/AIDS and other
sexually-transmitted diseases, as well as malaria. Rehabilitation of strategic Teaching and
Specialist Hospitals are also on-going.
MAIN THRUST OF NIGERIA'S TRADE AND INDUSTRIALISATION POLICY
Nigeria's current industrial policy thrust is anchored on a guided dc-regulation of the economy and
Government's dis-engagement from activities which are private-sector oriented, leaving
Government to play the role of facilitator, concentrating on the provision of incentives policy and
infrastructure that are necessary to enhance the private sector's role as the engine of growth. The
industrial policy is intended to:

generate productive employment and raise productivity;

increase export of locally manufactured goods;

create a wider geographical dispersal of industries;

improve the technological skills and capability available in the country;

increase the local content of industrial output by looking inward for the supply of basic
and intermediate inputs;

attract direct foreign investment;

increase private sector participation.

The Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Acts which hitherto regulated the extent and limits of foreign
participation in diverse sectors of the economy were repealed in 1995. The principal laws
regulating foreign investments now are, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Decree
and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Decree, both enacted in 1995.
Given the need to stabilize the banking and finance sectors, and promote confidence in these vital
institutions, the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks decrees of
1994 were put in place. The Investment and Securities Decree was also promulgated to update and
consolidate capital market laws and regulations into a single code.
Under the Privatisation and Commercialisation law of 1988, the government successfully sold its
holdings in industrial enterprises and financial institutions, and such divestments were made by
way of "Offers for Sale" on the floors of the Exchange, so that ultimate shareholdings in such
enterprises could be widespread. However, government retained full control of the public utility
service corporations.
The 1997 Budget proposed the repeal of all existing laws that inhibit competition in certain
sectors of the Nigeria economy. Consequently, with the promulgation of the Public Enterprises
Promotion and Commercialisation Decree in 1998, private sector investors (including nonNigerians) will now be free to participate in and compete with government-owned public utility
service corporations in the areas of telecommunications, electricity generation, exploration of
petroleum, export refineries, coal and bitumen exploration, hotel and tourism.
As a policy objective, the liberalization and deregulation of the exchange control regime is
designed to facilitate and enhance trading activities. Items on the import prohibition list have
been drastically reduced, with government opting to utilise tariff structures to protect end-user
product pricing of local industries and discourage frivolous imports. In 1998, the import
prohibition list was reduced to 11 items namely: maize, sorghum, millet, wheat flour, vegetable
oils (excluding linseed and castor oils used as industrial raw materials), barytes and bentonites,
gypsum, mosquito repellent coils, domestic articles and wares made of plastic materials
(excluding babies' feeding bottles), retreaded / used tyres, gaming machines.