Nigeria

• Environmental:

  • Northern Nigeria is semi-desert whereas southern Nigeria has high

  annual rainfall. Temperatures are high across the country.

  • Hardy crops such as millet and groundnuts are grown in the north whereas

  higher value cocoa, oil palm and rubber can be grown in the south.

  • Climate change (higher temperatures and less reliable rainfall), population

  pressure and over cultivation, is leading to soil erosion and desertification in the north.
• Political:

  • Since gaining independence in 1960 Nigeria suffered from political

  instability, including a civil war. This hampered Nigeria’s development and

  led to corruption.

  • Stable government since 1999. Free and fair elections in 2011 and 2015.

  • China, USA and South Africa are now investing in Nigeria.
• Nigeria has a higher birth rate than the UK, 38 per 1000 compared to 12 per 1000
• Life expectancy in Nigeria is 53, much lower than the UK's 81
• The literacy rate is 61% in Nigeria, compared to 99% in the UK
• Nigeria is a multi-faith, multi-ethnic country
• Social diversity in Nigeria is both a strength and a potential source of conflict
• The south of Nigeria, largely Christian, is wealthier than the north, largely Muslim
• Economic inequality between the south and north has created new religious and ethnic tensions, leading to the rise of the Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram
• These tensions have resulted in a reduction in foreign investment
• Inequality exists between urban and rural areas
• 60% of children attend secondary school in urban areas compared to only 36% in rural areas
• This encourages widespread rural-urban migration
• Cultural:

  • Nigerian cinema – known as ‘Nollywood’ – is the second largest film industry in the world.

  • Nigeria enjoys sporting success. Its football team has won the African Cup of Nations three times.
• • Traditionally Nigeria’s main exports were agricultural products like

  cocoa, timber, oil palm, groundnuts and cotton. This changed with the

  discovery of oil. Today oil accounts for 98% of export earnings.

  • The economy of Nigeria is shifting from one based mainly on primary

  industries (farming and extractive industries like oil and gas) to one based more on manufacturing or secondary industries. There has also been a growth in the service sector. This is leading to a more balanced economy.
• • Since 1999 employment in agriculture (primary sector) has fallen, due to increased use of farm machinery and better pay and conditions in the manufacturing and service sectors.

  • Stable government and the availability of oil has led to industrialisation and economic growth with investment in manufacturing and industries such as construction, motor manufacturing, sugar refining, paper and pharmaceuticals.
• • Manufacturing involves making products from raw materials. In the past Nigeria would export raw materials, mainly agricultural products, to be processed abroad. Today manufacturing accounts for 10% of Nigeria’s GDP. The secondary sector is the fastest growing in the country and produces goods such as processed foods, textiles, soaps and detergents. This trend is likely to increase with its growing home market, relatively cheap labour force and improving infrastructure.
• • There also been growth in the service (tertiary) sector, including in retail and finance.
• • The growth of Nigeria’s economy is due to many factors including: the size of its population; the fact that many people speak English; rapid advances in technology; investment in science and technology and the increased use of telecommunications.
• • Regular paid work gives people a more secure income. People then have

  more money to spend on manufactured products such as cars, clothes

  and electrical appliances, so the market for these grows.
• • As the industries grow, due to the increased demand, more people are

  employed and the amount of money paid to the government in taxes

  increases.
• A thriving industrial sector attracts foreign investment and this stimulates

  further economic growth.
• • Companies like Shell provide employment in factories and in services and

  the development of new skills. 65 000 Nigerians work for Shell.
• • TNCs like Shell pay taxes, which can be used by the government for

  investment.
• • TNCs often have charities to help people in the country they work in. The

  Shell Foundation supports sustainability and biodiversity in local

  communities.
• • Investment by TNCs in local infrastructure and education.
• • The activities of TNCs can pollute the environment. Shell has had many incidents involving oil spills. They cause water and soil pollution and can reduce agricultural production and fishing yields. In addition, frequent oil flares send toxic fumes into the air.
• • Local workers are sometimes paid poorly and work in poor conditions in factories known as ‘sweat shops’. Management jobs often go to foreign employees brought in by the TNC.
• • Much of the profit generated by the TNC goes abroad to the headquarters in the HIC.
• • Having become independent from the UK in 1960, Nigeria has become a member of the British Commonwealth. Although it is a republic it recognises the King as Head of the Commonwealth.
• • Over the past decades Nigeria’s political role has evolved. It is a leading member of African political and economic groups including the African Union (an economic planning and peacekeeping group) and ECOWAS (a trading group of West African nations). Globally, it contributes many troops to the UN peacekeeping force.
• • As its economy has developed it has become a major global trading nation. Its main exports are crude and refined petroleum, natural gas, rubber, cocoa and cotton. Its imports are refined petroleum from the EU and USA, cars from Brazil and the USA, telephones, rice and wheat. Telephones from China are one of its fastest growing imports.