They won the African Cup of Nations in 1980, 1994, and 2013, and have also hosted the U-17 & U-20 World Cup. Social, economic, and cultural history also began to grow in prominence. [49] In West Africa, the oldest bronzes made using the lost-wax process were from Igbo-Ukwu, a city under Nri influence. In 1963, the nation established a Federal Republic, with Azikiwe as its first president. Morocco was unable to control the empire and the various provinces, including the Hausa states, became independent. The Yoruba area contains a large Anglican population, while Igboland is a mix of Roman Catholics, Protestants, and a small population of Igbo Jews. The Benin Empire (1440–1897; called Bini by locals) was a pre-colonial African state in what is now modern Nigeria. Ghana declined in the 11th century but was succeeded by the Mali Empire which consolidated much of western Sudan in the 13th century. Their history is reflected in the Bayajidda legend, which describes the adventures of the Baghdadi hero Bayajidda culminating in the killing of the snake in the well of Daura and the marriage with the local queen magajiya Daurama. "A political history of Nigeria and the crisis of ethnicity in nation-building. [271] Maternal mortality was at 814 per 100,000 live births in 2015. [157], Nigeria is the 12th largest producer of petroleum in the world and the 8th largest exporter, and has the 10th largest proven reserves. It also has a number of adherents in the South Western, Yoruba part of the country. [155] Rubber is the second-largest non-oil foreign exchange earner. Holman, Michael (24 February 1986) "Nigeria, Politics; Religious Differences Intensify". B. Webster, R. J. Gavin, Robert Smith, and John D. Omer-Cooper. The origin of the name Niger, which originally applied to only the middle reaches of the Niger River, is uncertain. [11] Nigeria became a republic once again after a new constitution was written in 1979. [151] Fiscal year 2016 was characterized by currency depreciation and the attendant higher prices of petroleum products, electricity, and imported foods pushed inflation to 18.55% in December 2016 from 9.55% in December 2015. The New Helmsmen. The pidgin English or Nigerian English is widely spoken within the Niger Delta Regions, predominantly in Warri, Sapele, Port Harcourt, Agenebode, Ewu, and Benin City. In February 2010, Goodluck Jonathan began serving as acting President in the absence of Yaradua. This plateau extends through the border with Cameroon, where the montane land is part of the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon. Kano and Rano were known as the "Chiefs of Indigo." [61] The Ironsi government's efforts to abolish the federal structure and the renaming the country the Republic of Nigeria on 24 May 1966 raised tensions and led to another coup by largely northern officers in July 1966, which established the leadership of Major General Yakubu Gowon. It has 2.5-metre resolution panchromatic (very high resolution), 5-metre multispectral (high resolution, NIR red, green and red bands), and 32-metre multispectral (medium resolution, NIR red, green and red bands) antennas, with a ground receiving station in Abuja. DADA f Western African, Yoruba The troops are poorly trained and disciplined and some of the officers are turning to conspiracies and plotting. But the elections were marred by violence and allegations of widespread vote rigging and electoral malfeasance led to legal battles over the results. In October 2001, hundreds were killed and thousands displaced in communal violence that spread across the states of Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa. Various juntas have seized control of the country and ruled it through most of its history. It was very modern, however, in the sources used. Obasanjo was reelected in 2003. With its head office originally in Liverpool, the Bank commenced business on a modest scale in Lagos, Nigeria under the name, Bank of British West Africa (BBWA). The satellite constellation also conducted measurements of the atmospheric density 400 kilometres (250 mi) above the Earth. [78] Together, the triumvirate introduced austerity measures to stem inflation, established a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, replaced all military governors with new officers, and launched "Operation Deadwood" through which they fired 11,000 officials from the civil service. [84][85] In August 1983 Shagari and the NPN were returned to power in a landslide victory, with a majority of seats in the National Assembly and control of 12 state governments. [15], The Nok culture thrived from approximately 1,500 BC to about 200 AD on the Jos Plateau in north and central Nigeria and produced life-sized terracotta figures that include human heads, human figures, and animals. In October 1963 Nigeria proclaimed itself the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and former Governor-General Nnamdi Azikiwe became the country's first President. All announced candidates were disqualified from standing for president once a new election format was selected. The railways have undergone a massive revamping with projects such as the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Railway being completed connecting northern cities of Kano, Kaduna, Abuja, Ibadan and Lagos. The early independent kingdoms and states that make up present-day British colonialised Nigeria are (in alphabetical order): During the 15th century Oyo and Benin surpassed Ife as political and economic powers, although Ife preserved its status as a religious center. [253] In 2015, incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari said corrupt officials have stolen $150 billion from Nigeria in the last 10 years.[254]. A series of world oil price increases from 1973 produced rapid economic growth in transportation, construction, manufacturing, and government services. [47][48] Nri was ruled by the Eze Nri, and the city of Nri is considered to be the foundation of Igbo culture. In 2019, the economy began to recover slightly with the nation's real GDP growing by 2.3% and the IMF estimating another increase of 2.3% in 2020. "The petroleum industry is expanding faster than expected and oil revenues will help defray military and social service expenditures... "Nigeria emerged from the war with a heightened sense of national pride mixed with an anti-foreign sentiment, and an intention to play a larger role in African and world affairs." a previously counted 61% of the population living in poverty in 2012. Although the elections that brought Obasanjo to power in the 1999 presidential election and for a second term in the 2003 presidential election were condemned as unfree and unfair, Nigeria has shown marked improvements in attempts to tackle government corruption and hasten development. Upon independence, it was widely expected that Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto, the undisputed strong man in Nigeria[54] who controlled the North, would become Prime Minister of the new Federation Government. Petroleum plays a large role in the Nigerian economy, accounting for 40% of GDP and 80% of Government earnings. Arrears and penalty interest accumulated on the unpaid principal, which increased the size of the debt. – Britannica Online Encyclopedia", "Young Nigerians are connecting with Pentecostal churches. The Nigerian government has commissioned the overseas production and launch of four satellites. He looted money to offshore accounts in western European banks and defeated coup plots by arresting and bribing generals and politicians. Mostly because of government instability, which affects the rate at which citizens of Nigeria are employed is the major reason for the poverty levels being higher in certain periods of time. [33] According to the Yoruba, Oduduwa is regarded as the ancestor of the Yoruba kings. [12] Nigeria is divided roughly in half between Muslims, who live mostly in the north, and Christians, who live mostly in the south. More than 100 were killed in riots before Babangida agreed to hand power to an interim government on 27 August 1993. The Kingdom of Nri was a religio-polity, a sort of theocratic state, that developed in the central heartland of the Igbo region. Since the populations were partially affiliated with the Arab Muslim culture of North Africa, they started to trade and be referred to by the Arabic speakers as Al-Sudan (meaning "The Blacks") as they were considered an extended part of the Muslim world. It was launched on 13 May 2007, aboard a Chinese Long March 3B carrier rocket, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China. On 15 January 1966 a group of army officers (the Young Majors) mostly south-eastern Igbos, overthrew the NPC-NNDP government and assassinated the prime minister and the premiers of the northern and western regions. [citation needed] Abacha dissolved all democratic institutions and replaced elected governors with military officers. [230], Health care delivery in Nigeria is a concurrent responsibility of the three tiers of government in the country, and the private sector. [169] Lagos has become an important location for African and "black" cultural identity. Nigeria is a founding member of the African Union and a member of many other international organizations, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the ECOWAS, and OPEC. The collapse undermined Songhai's hegemony over the Hausa states and abruptly altered the course of regional history. Gradually Borno's position weakened; its inability to check political rivalries between competing Hausa cities was one example of this decline. Rioting broke out in the North. [184] The satellite eventually failed after losing power on 11 November 2008. ", "Mormon Church Announces New Missions in Africa and Vietnam", "Effect of the Bamako-Initiative drug revolving fund on availability and rational use of essential drugs in primary health care facilities in south-east Nigeria", "Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) - Nigeria | Data", "Finding a Match, and a Mission: Helping Blacks Survive Cancer", "Why Nigeria Was Able to Beat Ebola, but Not Boko Haram", "US sends experts to study Nigeria's anti-Ebola strategies", "US sends medical experts to study how Nigeria tamed Ebola", "BRAIN DRAIN: THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE (1)", "The Required Documents for Admission Screening | The Other Side", "Organized Crime: African Criminal Enterprises", "Cults of violence – How student fraternities turned into powerful and well-armed gangs", "Maritime Security: Current Threats and Implications", "The Nigerian "419" Advance Fee Scams: Prank or Peril? The military rulers looked upon the universities with deep suspicion and they were poorly funded. Some of the ethnic groups like the Ogoni, have experienced severe environmental degradation due to petroleum extraction. [14] Nigeria's constitution ensures freedom of religion. Nigeria has additionally founded regional cooperative efforts in West Africa, functioning as standard-bearer for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and ECOMOG, economic and military organizations, respectively. Nok artwork; 5th century BC – 5th century AD; length: 50 cm (19.6 in. On 17 August 1994, the government dismissed the leadership of the NLC and the petroleum unions, placed the unions under appointed administrators, and arrested Frank Kokori and other labor leaders. In November 1991, after a census was conducted, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) announced on 24 January 1992 that both legislative elections to a bicameral National Assembly and a presidential election would be held later that year. By tradition, the territory was conferred on the heir to the throne to govern during his apprenticeship. Lagos, city and chief port of Lagos state, Nigeria. On 27 July 2007 Nigeria's President Umaru Yar'Adua urged the country to embrace nuclear power in order to meet its growing energy needs. In other words, the nation’s name was gotten from its longest river — River Niger. The Federal government was given exclusive powers in defence, foreign relations, and commercial and fiscal policy. Aro and Abiriba cooperated to become a powerful economic force. [242] The government has majority control of university education. [262], In April 2016, more than 500 people in ten villages in predominantly Christian areas in Agatu were murdered by Fulani herdsmen. Most Sufis follow the Qadiriyya, Tijaniyyah and/or the Mouride movements. The vast landlocked empire connected the East with the West Sudan region and made inroads down south conquering parts of the Oyo Empire (modern-day Kwara), and advanced towards the Yoruba heartland of Ibadan, with the goal of reaching the Atlantic Ocean. Term for Citizen(s): Nigerian(s). The signal could be received by amateur radio operators. Many Fulani moved into Hausaland and Borno, and their arrival increased tensions because they had no loyalty to the political authorities, who saw them as a source of increased taxation. [304], In the early 1990s, Scrabble was made an official sport in Nigeria. [267] [19], The stone axe heads, imported in great quantities from the north and used in opening the forest for agricultural development, were venerated by the Yoruba descendants of Neolithic pioneers as "thunderbolts" hurled to earth by the gods. The far south is defined by its tropical rainforest climate, where annual rainfall is 60 to 80 inches (1,500 to 2,000 mm) a year. [96] The then-president, Olusegun Obasanjo, acknowledged fraud and other electoral "lapses" but said the result reflected opinion polls. According to Igbo oral tradition, his reign started in 1043. [173][174][175], Nigeria in recent years has been embracing industrialisation. During the oil boom of the 1970s, Nigeria accumulated a significant foreign debt to finance major infrastructural investments. [243] Students with required documents[244] typically enter university from age 17–18 onwards and study for an academic degree. The Etymological Origins of the Word Nigeria. Candidates with a minimum of Merit Pass in National Certificate of Education (NCE), National Diploma (ND) and other Advanced Level Certificates minimum qualifications with a minimum of 5O/L Credits are given direct entry admission into the appropriate undergraduate degree programs. [39] At least one historian puts Ìfikuánim's reign much later, around 1225.[40]. [34] Nri and Aguleri, where the Igbo creation myth originates, are in the territory of the Umueri clan, who trace their lineages back to the patriarchal king-figure, Eri. In December 1991 state legislative elections were held and Babangida decreed that previously banned politicians could contest in primaries scheduled for August. A number of Cubans settled in Nigeria as political refugees following the Cuban Revolution. These minorities mostly reside in major cities such as Lagos and Abuja, or in the Niger Delta as employees for the major oil companies. Nigeria (/naɪˈdʒɪəriə/ (listen)), officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west. These included human (such as the birth of twins), animal (such as killing or eating of pythons),[42] object, temporal, behavioral, speech and place taboos. Football is largely considered Nigeria's national sport and the country has its own Premier League of football. In 2017 agreements were signed for the construction of the Itu nuclear power plant. On the coast of West African, an area of 356,669 square miles has been covered, which was known officially as the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1963. [75], In the 2007 general election, Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, both of the People's Democratic Party, were elected President and Vice President, respectively. [167] Several startups like Paystack, Interswitch, Bolt and Piggyvest are leveraging technology to solve issues across different sectors. Since the late 1960s it has been based primarily on the petroleum industry. [133] Nigeria lies between latitudes 4° and 14°N, and longitudes 2° and 15°E. According to this school of thought, the Romans discovered a land opposite the Mediterranean and named it after the Berber tribe residing within the Carnage area, presently referred to … But the elections were marred by violence and allegations of widespread voter fraud included missing returns, polling places failing to open, and obvious rigging of results. Critically acclaimed writers of a younger generation include Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Chris Abani, Sefi Atta, Helon Habila, Helen Oyeyemi, Nnedi Okorafor, Kachi A. Ozumba, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, and Chika Unigwe. Kanuri, spoken in the northeast, primarily in Borno and Yobe State, is part of the Nilo-Saharan family, and Hausa is an Afroasiatic language. [231] Nigeria has been reorganising its health system since the Bamako Initiative of 1987, which formally promoted community-based methods of increasing accessibility of drugs and health care services to the population, in part by implementing user fees. Other places of interest include the Tafawa Balewa Square, Festac town, The Nike Art Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos and the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos. All major parties have practised vote-rigging and other means of coercion to remain competitive. On 24 March 2009, the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, NigComSat Ltd. and CGWIC signed another contract for the in-orbit delivery of the NigComSat-1R satellite. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons", "The Economic Development of Nigeria from 1914 to 2014", "Nigcomsat-1 Program --- In-Orbit Delivery Program --- Communications Satellite --- CGWIC", "Nigcomsat-1 Program – In-Orbit Delivery Program – Communications Satellite", United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan urges birth control, "World Population TO INCREASE BY 2.6 BILLION OVER NEXT 45 YEARS, WITH ALL GROWTH OCCURRING IN LESS DEVELOPED REGIONS", "Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat", "The Demographic Divide: What It Is and Why It Matters", "The 10 Most Populated Countries in Africa", "China and Africa: Stronger Economic Ties Mean More Migration", "Why white Zimbabwean farmers plan to stay in Nigeria", "Africa :: Nigeria — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency", "Percentages By Religion of the 1952 and 1963 Populations of Nigeria's Present 36 States", "Kano Seeks Supremacy of Sharia Over Constitution", "Table: Religious Composition by Country, in Percentages", "The Future of the Global Muslim Population", "Table: Christian Population in Numbers by Country | Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project", "Nigeria: a secular or multi religious state – 2", "The Middle Belt Movement and the Formation of Christian Consciousness in Colonial Northern Nigeria. [90] Babangida's regime has been considered the most corrupt, and responsible for creating a culture of corruption in Nigeria.[91]. Report[137] shows that high percentage of man-made forests in the country is dominated with exotic species. Yar'Adua's Hausa-Fulani background gave him a political base in the northern regions of Nigeria, while Goodluck does not have the same ethnic and religious affiliations. The accused were tried before a Gen Victor Malu military tribunal in which Diya and five others- Late Gen AK Adisa, Gen Tajudeen Olnrewaju, Late Col OO Akiyode, Major Seun Fadipe and a civilian Engr Bola Adebanjo were sentenced to death to die by firing squad. The United States is the country's largest foreign investor. The neighboring Awka city-state rose in power as a result of their powerful Agbala oracle and metalworking expertise. In August 2014, Shell Oil Company said it was finalising its interests in four Nigerian oil fields. There were also uncertainties, such as in the first republic, that political leaders may be unable to govern properly which would bring another batch of new military rulers. By the middle of the 20th century, the great wave for independence was sweeping across Africa. [264], Nigeria is a state party of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women[265] It also has signed Maputo Protocol, an international treaty on women's rights, and the African Union Women's Rights Framework. All five parties won representation in the National Assembly. The source of the Aro Confederacy's economic dominance was based on the judicial oracle of Ibini Ukpabi ("Long Juju") and their military forces which included powerful allies such as Ohafia, Abam, Ezza, and other related neighboring states. In the 1959 elections, the AG obtained 73 seats.[53]. Since 2004, Nigeria has a Chinese-origin research reactor at Ahmadu Bello University, and has sought the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency to develop plans for up to 4,000 MWe of nuclear capacity by 2027 according to the National Program for the Deployment of Nuclear Power for Generation of Electricity. [135] This forest zone's most southerly portion is defined as "salt water swamp", also known as a mangrove swamp because of the large amount of mangroves in the area. However, the subsequent massacre of thousands of Ibo in the north prompted hundreds of thousands of them to return to the south-east where increasingly strong Igbo secessionist sentiment emerged. Following the annulment of the June 12 election, the United States and others imposed sanctions on Nigeria including travel restrictions on government officials and suspension of arms sales and military assistance. [62][54], Following World War II, in response to the growth of Nigerian nationalism and demands for independence, successive constitutions legislated by the British government moved Nigeria toward self-government on a representative and increasingly federal basis. On the 31st of December 1899 the charter for the Royal Niger Company was revoked by the British Government, and the sum of £865.000 was paid to the company as compensation. His successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, adopted a new constitution on 5 May 1999 which provided for multiparty elections. The new president faces the daunting task of rebuilding a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement. The UNHCR representative said in 20 years of work, she had "never seen such a level of destruction". ", "Omnisports – Basketball : Le Nigéria toujours « Number One » en Afrique", OQTM – Nigeria celebrates 'greatest' victory, "Nigeria bobsled women qualify for Winter Olympics", "Why Nigeria produces Scrabble champions", "And The No. Joshua's Emmanuel TV, originating from Nigeria, is one of the most viewed television stations across Africa. [297] The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation has been working with the states to upgrade the traditional festivals, which may become important sources of tourism revenue. Shonekan was to rule until elections scheduled for February 1994. Britain annexed Lagos as a Crown Colony in August 1861 with the Lagos Treaty of Cession. Nok: African Sculpture in Archaeological Context: p. 21. B.E.B. [235] As of 2019[update], the infant mortality is 74.2 deaths per 1,000 live births. On October 1, 1979, Shehu Shagari was sworn in as the first President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Akintola faction argued that the Yoruba peoples were losing their pre-eminent position in business in Nigeria to people of the Igbo tribe because the Igbo-dominated NCNC was part of the governing coalition and the AG was not. It has the seventh-largest trade surplus with the U.S. of any country worldwide. In 1979, five political parties competed in a series of elections in which Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was elected president.