Profile

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Profile

Country
http://www.mapsofworld.com/nigeria/
Country
http://www.worldpress.org/profiles/Nigeria.cfm
People
http://www.nationmaster.com/country/ni/People
Media
http://www.nationmaster.com/country/ni/Media
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Nigeria: Country Profile
Nigeria has a rich array of private entrepreneurs, energetic and diverse ... The United Democratic Front of Nigeria (UDFN) was formed in March 1996 at ...
http://www.africaaction.org/bp/nigerall.html
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Profile

Population: 130.2 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Abuja
Area: 923,768 sq km (356,669 sq miles)
Major languages: English (official), Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa
Major religions: Islam, Christianity, indigenous beliefs
Life expectancy: 51 years (men), 52 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Nigerian naira = 100 kobo
Main exports: Petroleum, petroleum products, cocoa, rubber
GNI per capita: US $390 (World Bank, 2005)
Internet domain: .ng
International dialling code: +234

President: Olusegun Obasanjo (1999- 2007)

Mr Obasanjo won a second term in April 2003, gaining more than 60% of the vote in Nigeria's first civilian-run presidential poll for 20 years. But opposition parties rejected the outcome, citing allegations of vote-rigging.

Born in 1937, Mr Obasanjo is an ethnic Yoruba from the south-west of Nigeria. He joined the army in 1958 and came to prominence in 1970 as the officer who accepted the surrender of Biafran forces in the 1967-70 civil war.

Mr Obasanjo began his first leadership stint in 1976 after the assassination of Brigadier Murtala Mohamed. In 1979 he earned the distinction of becoming Africa's first modern military leader to hand over power to civilian rule. Renouncing politics, he then returned to his home state to set up a pig farm.

In 1995 he was jailed for his part in an alleged coup plot against military dictator Sani Abacha, but was set free three years later by new military leader General Abubakar.

He became a civilian head of state in 1999 in elections that followed a transition programme started by Gen Abubakar. Mr Obasanjo set up an investigation into human rights abuses under military rule, released political prisoners and began a crackdown on corruption. But critics have accused him of failing to halt spiralling violence and religious and ethnic clashes.

Mr Obasanjo has been praised for improving Nigeria's poor infrastructure but has been criticised over his general handling of the economy.

On the world stage, Mr Obasanjo helped to engineer a common plan for Africa's economic recovery - the New Partnership for African Development (Nepad). He is an enthusiastic advocate of the scheme.

A key player in the Commonwealth, Mr Obasanjo reluctantly supported Zimbabwe's suspension over political violence in 2002. He has vowed to try to bring Zimbabwe back into the fold.

Foreign minister: Oluyemi Adeniji
Finance minister: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Nigeria's media scene is one of the most vibrant in Africa. State-run radio and TV services reach virtually all parts of the country and operate at a federal and regional level. All 36 states run their own radio stations, and most of them operate TV services.

The media regulator reported in 2005 that more than 280 radio and TV licences had been granted to private operators. However TV stations in particular are dogged by high costs and scarce advertising revenues.

Radio is the key source of information for many Nigerians. Television viewing tends to be centred more in urban areas, and among the affluent. International radio broadcasters, including the BBC, are widely listened to.

There are more than 100 national and local newspapers and publications, some of them state-owned. They include well-respected dailies, popular tabloids and publications which champion the interests of ethnic groups. The lively private press is often critical of the government.

Media freedom improved under President Obasanjo. But restrictive decrees remain in force; in 2004 rebroadcasts of foreign radio stations were banned and concern was expressed over a proposed media law.

Citing high levels of violence, the media rights body Reporters Without Borders has said Nigeria is one of the most dangerous countries in Africa for journalists.

The press

The Guardian - influential, privately-owned national daily
The Champion - Lagos-based daily
Daily Times - Lagos-based government daily
The Punch - privately-owned daily
New Nigerian - government daily, separate editions in Lagos and Kaduna
Daily Trust - Abuja-based daily
The Comet - private, daily
Vanguard - Lagos-based, widely-read daily
This Day - widely-read Lagos-based daily
The Daily Sun - Lagos-based
Newswatch - weekly news magazine
Tell - weekly news magazine

Television

Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) - state-run, operates national and regional stations
Degue Broadcasting Network (DBN) - commercial
AIT - commercial, broadcasting in Lagos and Abuja and via satellite
Minaj TV - commercial, serves eastern Nigeria
Galaxy TV - commercial, serves western Nigeria
Channels TV - commercial

Radio

Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) - state-run, operates "Radio Nigeria" stations in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Enugu
Voice of Nigeria - external service
Ray Power - commercial, operates music-based and speech-based networks

News agency

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) - government-owned
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/...rica/country_profiles/1064557.stm

Published: 2005/07/15 14:35:16 GMT

© BBC MMV

admin · Nigeria - States

Nigeria - States

FCT & 36 States

ABUJA - Federal Capital Territory

ABIA
ADAMAWA
AKWA IBOM
ANAMBRA
BAYELSA
BAUCHI
BENUE
BORNO
CROSS RIVER
DELTA
EBONYI
EDO
EKITI
ENUGU
GOMBE
IMO
JIGAWA
KADUNA
KANO
KASTINA
KEBBI
KOGI
KWARA
LAGOS
NASARAWA
NIGER
OGUN
ONDO
OSUN
OYO
PLATEAU
RIVERS
SOKOTO
TARABA
YOBE
ZAMFARA