By the time of its break-up in 1903 into various European colonies, the Sokoto Caliphate was one of the largest pre-colonial African states. === British colonization === A changing legal imperative (the transatlantic slave trade was outlawed by Britain in 1807) and economic imperative (a desire for political and social stability) led most European powers to support the widespread cultivation of agricultural products, such as the palm, for use in European industry.
The Atlantic slave trade was engaged in by European companies until it was outlawed in 1807.
The rescued slaves were taken to Freetown, a colony in West Africa originally established for the resettlement of freed slaves from Britain. Lagos Colony Britain intervened in the Lagos kingship power struggle by bombarding Lagos in 1851, deposing the slave-trade-friendly Oba Kosoko, helping to install the amenable Oba Akitoye and signing the Treaty between Great Britain and Lagos on 1January 1852.
The rescued slaves were taken to Freetown, a colony in West Africa originally established for the resettlement of freed slaves from Britain. Lagos Colony Britain intervened in the Lagos kingship power struggle by bombarding Lagos in 1851, deposing the slave-trade-friendly Oba Kosoko, helping to install the amenable Oba Akitoye and signing the Treaty between Great Britain and Lagos on 1January 1852.
Britain annexed Lagos as a crown colony in August 1861 with the Lagos Treaty of Cession.
In 1864, Samuel Ajayi Crowther became the first African bishop of the Anglican Church. Royal Niger Company In 1885, British claims to a West African sphere of influence received recognition from other European nations at the Berlin Conference.
In 1864, Samuel Ajayi Crowther became the first African bishop of the Anglican Church. Royal Niger Company In 1885, British claims to a West African sphere of influence received recognition from other European nations at the Berlin Conference.
By the 1890s, the largest slave population in the world, about two million, was concentrated in the territories of the Sokoto Caliphate.
This name was coined on January 8, 1897, by British journalist Flora Shaw, who later married Lord Lugard, a British colonial administrator.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the company had vastly succeeded in subjugating the independent southern kingdoms along the Niger River, the British conquered Benin in 1897, and, in the Anglo-Aro War (1901–1902), defeated other opponents.
In 1900, the company's territory came under the direct control of the British government and established the Southern Nigeria Protectorate as a British protectorate and part of the British Empire, the foremost world power at the time. Northern Nigeria By 1902, the British had begun plans to move north into the Sokoto Caliphate.
In 1900, the company's territory came under the direct control of the British government and established the Southern Nigeria Protectorate as a British protectorate and part of the British Empire, the foremost world power at the time. Northern Nigeria By 1902, the British had begun plans to move north into the Sokoto Caliphate.
By the time of its break-up in 1903 into various European colonies, the Sokoto Caliphate was one of the largest pre-colonial African states. === British colonization === A changing legal imperative (the transatlantic slave trade was outlawed by Britain in 1807) and economic imperative (a desire for political and social stability) led most European powers to support the widespread cultivation of agricultural products, such as the palm, for use in European industry.
In the northeast, the decline of the Bornu Empire gave rise to the British-controlled Borno Emirate which established Abubakar Garbai of Borno as ruler. In 1903, the British victory in the Battle of Kano gave them a logistical edge in pacifying the heartland of the Sokoto Caliphate and parts of the former Bornu Empire.
On March 13, 1903, at the grand market square of Sokoto, the last vizier of the caliphate officially conceded to British rule.
In June 1903, the British defeated the remaining forces of AttahiruI and killed him; by 1906 resistance to British rule had ended. AmalgamationOn January 1, 1914, the British formally united the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate into the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
In June 1903, the British defeated the remaining forces of AttahiruI and killed him; by 1906 resistance to British rule had ended. AmalgamationOn January 1, 1914, the British formally united the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate into the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
There are early historical references by medieval Arab and Muslim historians and geographers which refer to the Kanem-Bornu Empire as the region's major centre for Islamic civilization. The Kingdom of Nri of the Igbo people consolidated in the 10th century and continued until it lost its sovereignty to the British in 1911.
The modern state originated with British colonialization in the 19th century, taking its present territorial shape with the merging of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1914 by Lord Lugard.
In June 1903, the British defeated the remaining forces of AttahiruI and killed him; by 1906 resistance to British rule had ended. AmalgamationOn January 1, 1914, the British formally united the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate into the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
For instance, northern Nigeria did not outlaw slavery until 1936 whilst in other parts of Nigeria slavery was abolished soon after colonialism. ==== Federation and Independence (1960) ==== Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom on October 1, 1960, as the Federation of Nigeria with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as its prime minister, while retaining the British monarch, Elizabeth II, as nominal head of state and Queen of Nigeria.
In 1950, Nigeria had only 33 million people.
Lagos has grown from about 300,000 in 1950 to an estimated 13.4 million in 2017. === Ethnic groups === {|class="wikitable" style="float:right;clear:right" |- | | | |- |A Hausa lute player |Igbo Chief |Yoruba drummers |} Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups, with varying languages and customs, creating a country of rich ethnic diversity.
In the period before 1983 election, a report prepared by the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies showed that only the 1959 and 1979 elections were held without systemic rigging.
Nigeria became a formally independent federation on October 1, 1960.
By independence in 1960, regional differences in modern educational access were marked.
For instance, northern Nigeria did not outlaw slavery until 1936 whilst in other parts of Nigeria slavery was abolished soon after colonialism. ==== Federation and Independence (1960) ==== Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom on October 1, 1960, as the Federation of Nigeria with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as its prime minister, while retaining the British monarch, Elizabeth II, as nominal head of state and Queen of Nigeria.
Azikiwe replaced the colonial governor-general in November 1960. The opposition comprised the comparatively liberal Action Group, which was largely dominated by the Yoruba and led by Obafemi Awolowo.
The House contains 360 seats, with the number of seats per state determined by population. Ethnocentrism, tribalism, religious persecution, and prebendalism have plagued Nigerian politics both prior and subsequent to independence in 1960.
The Nigerian military has been deployed across West Africa, curbing terrorism in countries like Mali, Senegal, Chad, and Cameroon, as well as dealing with the Mali War, and getting Yahya Jammeh out of power in 2017. === Foreign relations === Upon gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria made African unity the centerpiece of its foreign policy and played a leading role in the fight against the apartheid government in South Africa.
One exception to the African focus was Nigeria's close relationship developed with Israel throughout the 1960s.
The official language of Nigeria, English, was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country, owing to the influence of British colonisation which ended in 1960.
An imbalance was created in the polity by the result of the 1961 plebiscite.
In 1963, the nation established a federal republic, with Azikiwe as its first president.
When elections were held in 1965, the Nigerian National Democratic Party came to power in Nigeria's Western Region. === Republican era === Fall of the First Republic and Civil War The disequilibrium and perceived corruption of the electoral and political process led to two military coups in 1966.
When elections were held in 1965, the Nigerian National Democratic Party came to power in Nigeria's Western Region. === Republican era === Fall of the First Republic and Civil War The disequilibrium and perceived corruption of the electoral and political process led to two military coups in 1966.
The first coup was in January 1966 and was led mostly by Igbo soldiers under Majors Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu.
Later, the counter-coup of 1966, supported primarily by northern military officers, facilitated the rise of Yakubu Gowon as military head of state.
This ended almost 33 years of military rule from 1966 until 1999, excluding the short-lived second republic (between 1979 and 1983) by military dictators who seized power in coups d'état and counter-coups. Although the elections that brought Obasanjo to power 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.
It experienced a civil war from 1967 to 1970, followed by a succession of democratically-elected civilian governments and military dictatorships, until achieving a stable democracy in the 1999 presidential election; the 2015 election was the first time an incumbent president had lost re-election. Nigeria is a multinational state inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups speaking 500 distinct languages, all identifying with a wide variety of cultures.
Tension rose between north and south; Igbos in northern cities suffered persecution and many fled to the Eastern Region. In May 1967, Governor of the Eastern Region Lt.
This declaration precipitated the Nigerian Civil War, which began as the official Nigerian government side attacked Biafra on July 6, 1967, at Garkem.
It experienced a civil war from 1967 to 1970, followed by a succession of democratically-elected civilian governments and military dictatorships, until achieving a stable democracy in the 1999 presidential election; the 2015 election was the first time an incumbent president had lost re-election. Nigeria is a multinational state inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups speaking 500 distinct languages, all identifying with a wide variety of cultures.
The 30-month war, with a long siege of Biafra and its isolation from trade and supplies, ended in January 1970.
The Congolese government, under President Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, took an early stand on the Biafran secession, voicing strong support for the Nigerian federal government and deploying thousands of troops to fight against the secessionists. Following the war, Nigeria enjoyed an oil boom in the 1970s, during which the country joined OPEC and received huge oil revenues.
Israel sponsored and oversaw the construction of Nigeria's parliament buildings. Nigeria's foreign policy was put to the test in the 1970s after the country emerged united from its own civil war.
Nigeria also supported several Pan-African and pro-self government causes in the 1970s, including garnering support for Angola's MPLA, SWAPO in Namibia, and aiding opposition to the minority governments of Portuguese Mozambique, and Rhodesia.
It was temporarily expelled from the latter in 1995 when ruled by the Abacha regime. Nigeria has remained a key player in the international oil industry since the 1970s and maintains membership in OPEC, which it joined in July 1971.
Next to petroleum, the second-largest source of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria are remittances sent home by Nigerians living abroad. During the oil boom of the 1970s, Nigeria accumulated a significant foreign debt to finance major infrastructural investments.
The Nigerian government promoted the use of inorganic fertilizers in the 1970s.
It was temporarily expelled from the latter in 1995 when ruled by the Abacha regime. Nigeria has remained a key player in the international oil industry since the 1970s and maintains membership in OPEC, which it joined in July 1971.
However, agitation for better resource control in the Niger Delta, its main oil-producing region, has led to disruptions in oil production and prevents the country from exporting at 100% capacity. The Niger Delta Nembe Creek oil field was discovered in 1973 and produces from middle Miocene deltaic sandstone-shale in an anticline structural trap at a depth of .
The coup in July 1975, led by Generals Shehu Musa Yar'Adua and Joseph Garba, ousted Gowon, who fled to Britain.
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. Colonel Buka Suka Dimka launched a February 1976 coup attempt, during which General Murtala Muhammed was assassinated.
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.
On October 1, 1979, Shehu Shagari was sworn in as the first President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This ended almost 33 years of military rule from 1966 until 1999, excluding the short-lived second republic (between 1979 and 1983) by military dictators who seized power in coups d'état and counter-coups. Although the elections that brought Obasanjo to power 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.
In the period before 1983 election, a report prepared by the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies showed that only the 1959 and 1979 elections were held without systemic rigging.
With the fall of oil prices during the 1980s oil glut, Nigeria struggled to keep up with its loan payments and eventually defaulted on its principal debt repayments, limiting repayment to the interest portion of the loans.
In 1983, the inspectors of the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation began to notice "the slow poisoning of the waters of this country".
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.
There were also uncertainties, such as in the first republic, that political leaders may be unable to govern properly. Military rule and Third Republic (1983–1999) The 1983 military coup d'état took place on New Year's Eve of that year.
The adopted process advocated that any candidate needed to pass through adoption for all elective positions from the local government, state government and federal government. The 1993 presidential election held on June 12, was the first since the military coup of 1983.
This ended almost 33 years of military rule from 1966 until 1999, excluding the short-lived second republic (between 1979 and 1983) by military dictators who seized power in coups d'état and counter-coups. Although the elections that brought Obasanjo to power 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.
In the period before 1983 election, a report prepared by the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies showed that only the 1959 and 1979 elections were held without systemic rigging.
The military coup of Muhammadu Buhari shortly after the regime's re-election in 1984 was generally viewed as a positive development.
General Buhari was overthrown in a 1985 military coup d'état led by General Ibrahim Babangida, who established the Armed Forces Ruling Council and became military president and commander in chief of the armed forces.
In 1986, he established the Nigerian Political Bureau which made recommendations for the transition to the Third Nigerian Republic.
In 1989, Babangida started making plans for the transition to the Third Nigerian Republic.
Babangida survived the 1990 Nigerian coup d'état attempt, then postponed a promised return to democracy to 1992. He legalized the formation of political parties, and formed the two-party system with the Social Democratic Party and National Republican Convention ahead of the 1992 general elections.
Between 1990 and 2000, Nigeria lost an average of 409,700 hectares of forest every year equal to an average annual deforestation rate of 2.4%.
Between 1990 and 2005, in total Nigeria lost 35.7% of its forest cover, or around 6,145,000 hectares.
Most of Nigeria's oil fields are small and scattered, and as of 1990, these small fields accounted for 62.1% of all Nigerian production.
Nigeria's population increased by 57 million from 1990 to 2008, a 60% growth rate in less than two decades.
Babangida survived the 1990 Nigerian coup d'état attempt, then postponed a promised return to democracy to 1992. He legalized the formation of political parties, and formed the two-party system with the Social Democratic Party and National Republican Convention ahead of the 1992 general elections.
After a census was conducted, the National Electoral Commission announced on January 24, 1992, that both legislative elections to a bicameral National Assembly and a presidential election would be held later that year.
The adopted process advocated that any candidate needed to pass through adoption for all elective positions from the local government, state government and federal government. The 1993 presidential election held on June 12, was the first since the military coup of 1983.
In August 1993, Babangida finally kept his promise to relinquish power to a civilian government but not before appointing Ernest Shonekan head of the interim national government.
Shonekan's interim government, the shortest in the political history of the country, was overthrown in a coup d'état of 1993 led by General Sani Abacha, who used military force on a wide scale to suppress the continuing civilian unrest. In 1995, the government hanged environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa on trumped-up charges in the deaths of four Ogoni elders.
Shonekan's interim government, the shortest in the political history of the country, was overthrown in a coup d'état of 1993 led by General Sani Abacha, who used military force on a wide scale to suppress the continuing civilian unrest. In 1995, the government hanged environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa on trumped-up charges in the deaths of four Ogoni elders.
Since 1995, the Nigerian military, through ECOMOG mandates, have been deployed as peacekeepers in Liberia (1997), Ivory Coast (1997–1999), and Sierra Leone (1997–1999).
It was temporarily expelled from the latter in 1995 when ruled by the Abacha regime. Nigeria has remained a key player in the international oil industry since the 1970s and maintains membership in OPEC, which it joined in July 1971.
The regime came to an end in 1998, when the dictator died in the villa.
Its last period of military rule ended in 1999 following the sudden death of Sani Abacha in 1998.
It experienced a civil war from 1967 to 1970, followed by a succession of democratically-elected civilian governments and military dictatorships, until achieving a stable democracy in the 1999 presidential election; the 2015 election was the first time an incumbent president had lost re-election. Nigeria is a multinational state inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups speaking 500 distinct languages, all identifying with a wide variety of cultures.
Several hundred million dollars in accounts traced to Abacha were discovered in 1999.
His successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, adopted a new constitution on May 5, 1999, which provided for multiparty elections. Democratization and Fourth Republic (1999–present) On May 29, 1999, Abubakar transferred power to the winner of the 1999 presidential election, former military ruler General Olusegun Obasanjo as the second democratically elected civilian President of Nigeria heralding the beginning of the Fourth Nigerian Republic.
This ended almost 33 years of military rule from 1966 until 1999, excluding the short-lived second republic (between 1979 and 1983) by military dictators who seized power in coups d'état and counter-coups. Although the elections that brought Obasanjo to power 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.
Its last period of military rule ended in 1999 following the sudden death of Sani Abacha in 1998.
As of 1999, its 194,394 kilometres of road networks are the main means of transportation, of which (including of expressways) are paved roads and 134,326 kilometres are unpaved roads of city, town and village roads.
Evidence of iron smelting has also been excavated at sites in the Nsukka region of southeast Nigeria: dating to 2000 BC at the site of Lejja and to 750 BC and at the site of Opi. === Early history === The Kano Chronicle highlights an ancient history dating to around 999 AD of the Hausa Sahelian city-state of Kano, with other major Hausa cities (or Hausa Bakwai) of: Daura, Hadeija, Kano, Katsina, Zazzau, Rano, and Gobir all having recorded histories dating back to the 10th century.
Its status as a major petroleum producer figures prominently in its sometimes volatile international relations with developed countries, notably the United States, and with developing countries. Since 2000, China-Nigerian trade relations have risen exponentially.
There has been an increase in total trade of over 10,384 million dollars between the two nations from 2000 to 2016.
Between 1990 and 2000, Nigeria lost an average of 409,700 hectares of forest every year equal to an average annual deforestation rate of 2.4%.
Nigeria's ICT sector has experienced a lot of growth, representing 10% of the nation's GDP in 2018 as compared to just 1% in 2001.
This ended almost 33 years of military rule from 1966 until 1999, excluding the short-lived second republic (between 1979 and 1983) by military dictators who seized power in coups d'état and counter-coups. Although the elections that brought Obasanjo to power 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.
In the 2015 presidential election, former military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari – who had previously contested in the 2003, 2007, and 2011 presidential elections—defeated incumbent Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party by over two million votes, ending the party's sixteen year rule in the country and marking the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost to an opposition candidate.
The largest, Millennium Park, was designed by architect Manfredi Nicoletti and officially opened in December 2003.
The satellite was launched from Russia on September 27, 2003.
In 2004, the IUCN–World Conservation Union identified 81 IAS in South Africa, 49 in Mauritius, 37 in Algeria and Madagascar, 35 in Kenya, 28 in Egypt, 26 in Ghana and Zimbabwe, and 22 in Ethiopia.
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.
Some of the solutions have been disastrous to the environment, resulting in untreated waste being dumped in places where it can pollute waterways and groundwater. In 2005, Nigeria had the highest rate of deforestation in the world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Between 1990 and 2005, in total Nigeria lost 35.7% of its forest cover, or around 6,145,000 hectares.
After negotiations by the Nigerian authorities, in October 2005 Nigeria and its Paris Club creditors reached an agreement under which Nigeria repurchased its debt at a discount of approximately 60%.
By their projections, Nigeria is one of eight countries expected to account collectively for half of the world's total population increase in 2005–2050.
In late November 2006, it organised an Africa-South America Summit in Abuja to promote what some attendees termed "South-South" linkages on a variety of fronts.
Nigeria made history in April 2006 by becoming the first African country to completely pay off its debt (estimated $30 billion) owed to the Paris Club. === Agriculture === , about 30% of Nigerians are employed in agriculture.
The results of the most recent census were released in December 2006 and gave a population of 140,003,542.
Umaru Yar'Adua of the People's Democratic Party came into power in the general election of 2007.
In a national television address in 2007, he added that if Nigerians did not like the victory of his handpicked successor, they would have an opportunity to vote again in four years.
In the 2015 presidential election, former military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari – who had previously contested in the 2003, 2007, and 2011 presidential elections—defeated incumbent Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party by over two million votes, ending the party's sixteen year rule in the country and marking the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost to an opposition candidate.
In 2007, President Umaru Yar'Adua urged the country to embrace nuclear power in order to meet its growing energy needs.
It was launched in 2007 aboard a Chinese Long March 3B carrier rocket, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China.
On November 11, 2008, NigComSat-1 failed in orbit after running out of power because of an anomaly in its solar array.
On 10 November 2008 (0900 GMT), the satellite was reportedly switched off for analysis and to avoid a possible collision with other satellites.
The satellite eventually failed after losing power on 11 November 2008.
Nigeria's population increased by 57 million from 1990 to 2008, a 60% growth rate in less than two decades.
The 2009 Eyo carnival (a yearly festival originated from Iperu Remo, Ogun State) was a step toward world city status.
On 24 March 2009, the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, NigComSat Ltd.
Yar'Adua died on May 5, 2010.
Nigeria had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.2/10, ranking it 82nd globally out of 172 countries. In 2010, thousands of people were inadvertently exposed to lead-containing soil from informal gold mining within the northern state of Zamfara.
Established in 2010, the event takes place over a 3- to 5-day period at selected high-quality outdoor venues.
In the 2015 presidential election, former military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari – who had previously contested in the 2003, 2007, and 2011 presidential elections—defeated incumbent Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party by over two million votes, ending the party's sixteen year rule in the country and marking the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost to an opposition candidate.
The city of Aba in the south-eastern part of the country is well known for handicrafts and shoes, known as "Aba made". == Infrastructure == === Energy === Nigeria's primary energy consumption was about 108 Mtoe in 2011.
NigComSat-1R was also a DFH-4 satellite, and the replacement for the failed NigComSat-1 was successfully launched into orbit by China in Xichang on 19 December 2011.
In 2012, Nigeria was estimated to have lost over $400 billion to corruption since independence.
In 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan said Nigerians should limit their number of children. Millions of Nigerians have emigrated during times of economic hardship, primarily to Europe, North America and Australia.
In June 2013, Shell announced a strategic review of its operations in Nigeria, hinting that assets could be divested.
In 2013, Nigeria introduced a policy regarding import duty on vehicles to encourage local manufacturing companies in the country.
While many international oil companies have operated there for decades, by 2014 most were making moves to divest their interests, citing a range of issues including oil theft.
In August 2014, Shell Oil Company said it was finalising its interests in four Nigerian oil fields. Nigeria has a total of 159 oil fields and 1,481 wells in operation according to the Department of Petroleum Resources.
It experienced a civil war from 1967 to 1970, followed by a succession of democratically-elected civilian governments and military dictatorships, until achieving a stable democracy in the 1999 presidential election; the 2015 election was the first time an incumbent president had lost re-election. Nigeria is a multinational state inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups speaking 500 distinct languages, all identifying with a wide variety of cultures.
In the 2015 presidential election, former military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari – who had previously contested in the 2003, 2007, and 2011 presidential elections—defeated incumbent Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party by over two million votes, ending the party's sixteen year rule in the country and marking the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost to an opposition candidate.
In 2017, Nigeria signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. In April 2015, Nigeria began talks with Russia's state-owned Rosatom to collaborate on the design, construction and operation of four nuclear power plants by 2035, the first of which will be in operation by 2025.
In June 2015, Nigeria selected two sites for the planned construction of the nuclear plants.
There has been an increase in total trade of over 10,384 million dollars between the two nations from 2000 to 2016.
The Nigerian military has been deployed across West Africa, curbing terrorism in countries like Mali, Senegal, Chad, and Cameroon, as well as dealing with the Mali War, and getting Yahya Jammeh out of power in 2017. === Foreign relations === Upon gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria made African unity the centerpiece of its foreign policy and played a leading role in the fight against the apartheid government in South Africa.
In 2017, Nigeria signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. In April 2015, Nigeria began talks with Russia's state-owned Rosatom to collaborate on the design, construction and operation of four nuclear power plants by 2035, the first of which will be in operation by 2025.
In 2017 agreements were signed for the construction of the Itu nuclear power plant. === Transportation === Nigeria suffers from lack of adequate transportation infrastructure.
The median age in 2017 was 18.4 years.
The birth rate is 35.2-births/1,000 population and the death rate is 9.6 deaths/1,000 population as of 2017, while the total fertility rate is 5.07 children born/woman.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and accounts for about 17% of the continent's total population as of 2017; however, exactly how populous is a subject of speculation. National census results in the past few decades have been disputed.
Lagos has grown from about 300,000 in 1950 to an estimated 13.4 million in 2017. === Ethnic groups === {|class="wikitable" style="float:right;clear:right" |- | | | |- |A Hausa lute player |Igbo Chief |Yoruba drummers |} Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups, with varying languages and customs, creating a country of rich ethnic diversity.
Nigeria's ICT sector has experienced a lot of growth, representing 10% of the nation's GDP in 2018 as compared to just 1% in 2001.
In the 2019 presidential election, Buhari was re-elected for a second term in office defeating his closet rival Atiku Abubakar. == Politics == Nigeria is a federal republic modelled after the United States, with executive power exercised by the President.
Nigeria had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.2/10, ranking it 82nd globally out of 172 countries. In 2010, thousands of people were inadvertently exposed to lead-containing soil from informal gold mining within the northern state of Zamfara.
In August 2019, Nigeria closed its border with Benin and other neighbouring countries to stop rice smuggling into the country as part of efforts to boost the local production. === Petroleum and mining === Nigeria is the 12th largest producer of petroleum in the world, the 8th largest exporter, and has the 10th largest proven reserves.
As of 2020, the Eco currency has been delayed to 2025. === Administrative divisions === Nigeria is divided into thirty-six states and one Federal Capital Territory, which are further sub-divided into 774 local government areas.
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