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The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria accounts for one quarter of Sub-Saharan Africa's people. Although fewer than 25 percent of Nigerians are urban dwellers, at least 24 cities have populations of more than 100, 000. The dominant ethnic group in the northern two-thirds of the country is the Hausa-Fulani, most of whom are Muslims. Other major ethnic groups of the north are the Name, Tiv, and Kanuri. The Yoruba people Christian and half Muslim. The predominately Catholic Igbo's are the largest ethnic group in the southeast, with the Efik, Ibibio, and Ijaw comprising a substantial segment of the population in that area as well.
There are between 250 to 400 other recognized ethnic groups; many divided into subgroups of considerable social and political importance. The most important ethno linguistic categories are the Hausa and Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in southwest, and the Igbo in southeast. All of these ethnic groups are further divided on sub-ethnic and clan lines. Other important groups include the Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, and Ijaw. According to Ethnologue, the number of first languages spoken in Nigeria are 478.
Many languages have regional dialects. The most broadly spoken languages are Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. Hausa is the major language in the north. English is the official language used in government, large-scale business, mass media, and education beyond primary school. Divers local languages are used for primary education. Few people study beyond primary school and the literacy rate is thought to be around 42 percent.
Classical Arabic is taught for use in prayer in the north. Educated people of different language backgrounds most commonly communicate in English, although knowledge of two or more Nigerian languages is widespread. Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo are the most widely used as a lingua franca. According to World Health Organization May 2000 figures, Nigeria has a life expectancy on average of 38. 3 years, 38. 1 for males and 38. 4 for females. Nigeria gained its independence from British rule on October 1 st, 1960, and became a republic in 1963, with Azikiwe as the president. During the early 1960 s, the pre-independence alliances crumbled, and there was a progressive breakdown of law and order, and civil war broke out between the different political parties and ethnic groups.
After the civil war the petroleum industries helped restore war-damages. In July 1975, President Good was overthrown and replaced by Murtala. In July 1979, a new constitution, providing for the direct election of an executive president, came into force, in august, She Shagari, a Muslim from the north, was elected. The great rise in Nigeria's oil revenues during the 1970 s, together with a concentration of in vestment in industry, stimulated a vast migration from farm areas to the cities. As a result, urban unemployment grew, while farm output stagnated and food imports soared, Shagari tried to increase food production by favoring agricultural development, with some success. After that the oil industry began to fall due to a worldly recession.
Shangri was overthrown later by a military group, and the constitution was partly suspended. Later the country took a monetary loan from the IMF and had to follow strict conditions for the loan. In 1995 Nigeria became a democracy again. The disruption of the petroleum industry further destabilized the countrys oil-based economy and the resultant scarcity of fuel shut down commercial and social activity all over the country. The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management. Nigeria's unpopular military rulers have failed to make significant progress in diversifying the economy away from over-dependence on the capital intensive oil sector which provides 30 % of GDP, 95 % of foreign exchange earnings, and about 80 % of budgetary revenues.
The government's resistance to initiating greater transparency and accountability in managing the country's multibillion dollar oil earnings continues to limit economic growth and prevent an agreement with the IMF and bilateral creditors on a staff-monitored program and debt relief. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. Government revenue in 2000 is expected to more than double from $ 4. 2 billion to $ 8. 8 billion due to improved oil prices and the commencement of liquefied natural gas exports (LNG). The current government is attempting to retrieve an estimated $ 15 billion of misappropriated public funds held by a handful of Nigerians living abroad. Corruption continues to be a major problem.
Recently Transparency International ranked Nigeria as the second most corrupt out of 99 countries evaluated. The Nigerian government did not challenge the evaluation. In terms of key economic indicators, Nigeria in 1998 had a gross domestic product (GDP) of 88. 2 billion (in 1990 $US), a population of 110. 5 million, and a GDP per capita of $ 798. In terms of global rankings, this placed Nigeria 38 out of 191 countries in terms of GDP, 10 out of 191 countries in terms of population, and 153 out of 191 countries in terms of GDP per capita In the context of regional economic developments, Nigeria will not be helped, outside of the energy sector, by the general lack of investor interest in direct investment in the region nor by the sluggish growth in the regions largest economy, South Africa. Bibliography:
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