1. NIGERIA The Basics

2. GEOGRAPHY
Land Area: 356,669 sq. miles
(2x the size of California)
Location: Coast of West Africa
Abuja
Capitol City: Abuja
Neighboring Countries:
Benin, Niger, Chad, Cameroon
*Divided into ―states‖ by the
government, but ethnic zones play
a far more crucial role in politics

3. ZONES

4. SOCIET Y
 Religion: 50% Muslim, 40%
 Population: 154.7 million Christian, 10% indigenous
beliefs
 Birthrate: 39.8/1000
people  Health: Lack of access to
adequate sanitation and clean
water—rural Nigerians spend
 Death rate: 16.4/1000 3-4 hour s/day gathering
people water.
 Life Expectancy: 47.8 years  Education: 69.1% literacy rate
 Gov‘t provides free
schooling, but it is not
 Language: English compulsory.
(of ficial) dozens of tribal  Described as ―dysfunctional‖ by
languages. Nigerian government

5. ―There are no
Nigerians in the
same sense as
there are
‗English‘ or
‗French.‘ The
word Nigerian is
merely a
distinctive
ETHNIC GROUPS appellation to
distinguish
those who live
*250-400 identified ethnic groups but within the
they ―ally‖ themselves into 3 major boundaries of
sections. Nigeria and
those who do
not.‖

6. HAUSA
FULANI
Location:
Nor thern Nigeria
Percent of
Population: 30%
Predominantly
Muslim

7. HAUSA FULANI
• Predominantly subsistence
farmers/herders
• Follow Sharia law Women not allowed
for vote freely, stoned for adultery, etc.
• Remain largely in control of Nigerian
politics
• Strict dress code
• Poorly educated

8. YORUBA
Location:
Southwestern
Nigeria
Percent of
Population: 21%
Equal number s
of Muslims and
Christians

9. YORUBA
• Farmers-- SW Nigeria is prime agriculture
region (Cash crops & subsistence)
• Lagos is largest city in region—one of the
most polluted in world
• Largest region for migration
• Ethnic identity is more important than
religious identity
• Greater diversity of opportunity and
economic activity

10. IGBO
Location:
Southeast
Nigeria
Percent of
Population:
1 8%
Predominantly
Christian

11. IGBO
• Primarily farmers
• Most educated overall
• Follow strict gender divided roles—women
can only plant certain crops, men others
• Known for ironsmithing and other arts
• Women play prominent role in politics (esp.
at the village level)

12. ETHNIC & CULTURAL CLEAVAGES
 Elite v. Masses
 Education Levels: ―important‖…but few children go beyond
primary school schools are becoming more heavily
influenced by religion but are said to promote ―democratic
values‖
 Relationship between farming and poverty
 70% of population is below the poverty line, yet 33% of the country‘s GDP
& more than 70% of the population is employed in the agricultural
industry.

13. The
HISTORY Critical
Junctures

14. 1800-1945
Pre-colonial Period Colonial Rule
 Ruled by Islamic leader s up until  Establishment of indirect rule by
19 th centur y. (Accounts for the British  allowed for
religious rif ts in nation) traditional methods of
government to per sist (still seen
 Slave trade began in 1650s  3.5 in some villages today)
million people moved across  Strengthened collective
Sahara. identities formation of 3 key
groups began.
 1 860‘s British slave trade ended
and there was a shif t towards
natural resources like palm oil 
beginning of exploitati on of Niger
Delta which still has critical
political ramifications today.

15. 1945-1979
The First Republic Civil War & Military Rule
 Independence granted from  Igbo officials seized power in 1966
British in 1960  Igbo population attempted to secede
 Adopted Westminster model. from Nigeria to form their own
Countr y ruled by group from the country…didn‘t work.
Nor th resources unfairly  Military led government attempted to
distributed. hold Nigeria together 3 year long
bloody civil war (at least 1 million killed)
 Global Oil Boom 1973-1974
 General Olusegun Obasanjo peacefully
ceded government power to civilian
government.

16. 1979-PRESENT
2 nd & 3 rd Republics Fourth Republic
 National Par ty of Nigeria – used  Obasanjo reformed state and
fraud and violence to win economy – removed militar y
―elections‖ of ficials from power, installed
 Militar y seizes power in 1983 new leader s in oil sector, and
under General Buhari obtained foreign investments to
 Buhari refused to return to manage debt.
democratic rule and decimated  Rigged election of 2007 put
economy Yar‘Adua into power—he quickly
 1985 Buhari‘s government is rever sed several of Obasanjo‘s
over thrown by Gen. Babangida— actions
annulled 1993 elections  Yar‘Adua dies in 2010. Goodluck
 1999 power handed over to Jonathon sworn in 2011
civilian government and President
Obasanjo elected