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Nigeria became a sovereign nation in 1960 and a Republic in 1963. The country is divided into 36 States, excluding the Capital Territory, Abuja, which is the nation’s capital. There are 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria with 4000 dialects. The major Nigerian ethnic groups are Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas Fulanis, Igalas, Kanuris, Tivs, Ibibios, Ijaws, Edos, Efiks, Urhobos, Edomas and Itsekiris. With a population of 140 million people, one of every five Africans is a Nigerian.
Nigeria is positioned between longitudes 80° east, latitude 100° north and has approximately 577,355 sq. miles of land and water. Nigeria is bordered by the Republic of Niger and Chad to the North, on the fringes of the Sahara desert; the Atlantic Ocean to the South, and the Republic of Benin and Cameroon to the East and West.
GOVERNANCE
Nigeria is a parliamentary democracy with an executive branch headed at the Federal level by a President and Vice-President, an independent Judiciary appointed by the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives, who both constitute the National Assembly and are elected by a popular vote. The State governments are headed by a Governor at the Executive level, a State Assembly and Local Governments led by Chairmen, All three state branches of government are elected by a popular vote.
SOCIO-ECONOMY
Nigeria is economically rich in natural resources with large deposits of oil, ore deposits and a viable agricultural and fishery industry. There has been rapid development in the industrial, financial and service sectors. This rapid development has resulted in Nigeria providing one of the highest returns on investments amongst the emergent global market economies. The entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians and the challenge to meet the needs of the large and growing Nigerian population drives a socio-economy that is constantly undergoing reforms and restructuring as the country searches for an ideal equilibrium.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Nigeria is an active participant and a member of several international, regional, and sub-regional organizations. These include: the United Nations (UN), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), African Union (AU), ECOWAS, The Commonwealth of Nations and other organizations.
NIGERIA’S LEADERSHIP IN GLOBAL PEACEKEEPING
Since joining the United Nations in 1960, Nigeria has consistently committed itself to the cause of peacekeeping. Nigeria sent her troops to participate in the UN peace mission in the Congo, soon after its independence. A former advisor to Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Carter, Professor Ruth Morgenthau noted that Nigeria “is among the most committed countries to maintain the degree of international order that the present UN decision making process permits.” 116 countries contribute troops to over 17 global operations. Today, Nigeria is a leading troop contributing country to international peacekeeping. Nigeria has more than 6,020 men keeping the peace outside its borders in Bosnia Herzegovina, Iraq, Kuwait, Western Sahara, Liberia, Sudan, Angola and Rwanda. Nigerian troops have also served in Somalia, Mozambique, Cambodia, The Congo, Chad, Lebanon, India and Pakistan (Kashmir).
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