NIGERIA: COUNTRY PROFILE THE LAND AND PEOPLE FACT FILE Area: 924,000 sq.km. Population: 110million (estimate) Capital: Abuja (Federal Capital Territory) Government: Three-tier structure - A Federal Government, 36 State Governments, 774 Local Government Administrations Official Language: English Main Indigenous Languages: Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba Main Religions: Christianity, Islam, traditional Main Commercial/Industrial Cities: Lagos, Onitsha, Kano, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Aba, Maidugirl, Jos, Kaduna, Warri, Benin, Nnewi Major Industrial Complexes: Refineries and Petro-Chemicals - Kaduna, Warri, Port Harcourt, Eleme. Iron and Steel :Ajokuta, Warri, Oshogbo, Katsina, Jos Fertilizer: Onne - Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Minna, Kano Liquified Natural Gas: Bonny, Aluminium Smelter - IkotAbasi, Port Harcourt Main Ports: Lagos (Apapa, Tin-can lsland),Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne Deep Sea and Hub Port, Calabar (EPZ) Main Airports: Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu, Kaduna Maidugiri, llorin, Jos, Owerri, Calabar, Yola Road Network: Over 15,000 km of intercity all weather paved roads, Including dual carriage express trunks. Railways: 2 main lines (South-West to North-East; South East to North-West) inter-linked and terminatory at Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaura Namoda, Maidugiri and Nguru. Major junctions at Kaduna, Kafanchan, Zaria. Guage: 1067mm 3505 route km Energy: Hydro-electric - Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro Thermal and Gas - Egbin(Lagos), Ugheli, Afam, Sapele National Grid for Electricity distribution National pipeline network with regional depots for petroleum products distribution National network (Pipeline) for distribution of gas (under construction) Currency: NAIRA; N1.00 = 100k (one naira = hundred kobo) GEOGRAPHY Nigeria is situated in the West African region and lies between longitude 3° and 14° degree East and latitudes 4° and 14° degrees North above the Equator. It has a land mass of 924,000 square kilometer: it is bordered to the north by the Republics of Niger and Tchad; it shares borders to the west with the Republic of Benin, while the Republic of Cameroom shares the eastern borders right down to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the southern limits of Nigerian Territory. The about 800km of coastline confers on the country the potentials of a maritime power. Land is in abundance in Nigeria for agricultural, industrial and commercial activities. CLIMATE Temperatures across the country is relatively high with a very narrow variation in seasonal and diurnal ranges (22-36°C). There are 2 basic seasons; wet season which lasts from April to October; and the dry season which lasts from November till March. The dry season commences with Harmattan, a dry chilly spell that lasts till February and is associated with lower temperatures, a dusty and hazy atmosphere brought about by the North-Easterly winds blowing from the Arabian peninsular across the Sahara; the second half of the dry season, February- March, is the hottest period of the year when temperatures range from 33° to 38°. The extremes of the wet season are felt in the southern coastal regions where rainfall might reach a high monthly average of 1500mm; while the extremes of the dry season, in aridity and high temperatures, are felt in the north third of the land mass. VEGETATION In line with the rainfall distribution - a wetter south and a drier northern half, there are two broad vegetation types: Forests and Savanna. There are three variants, of each, running as near parallel bands east to west across the country. Forests Saline water swamp Fresh water swamp Tropical (high) evergreen Rain forest Savanna Guinea Savanna Sudan Savanna Sahel Savanna There is also the mountain vegetation of the isolated high plateau regions on the far eastern extremes of the country (Jos, Mambilla, There is also the mountain vegetation of the isolated high plateau regions on the far eastern extremes of the country (Jos, Mambilla, Obudu). The savanna, especially Guinea and Sudan, are the major grains, grasses, tubers, vegetable and cotton growing regions. The Tropical evergreen rain forest belt bear timber production and forest development, production of cassava and plantation growing of fruit trees - citrus, oil palm, cocoa, rubber, etc. POPULATION AND LABOUR FORCE Nigeria is famous for her huge population of about 110 million people - the largest national population on the African continent. This population is made up of about 374 pure ethnic stocks. Three of them Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba are the major groups and constitute over 40 per cent of the population. In fact, about 10 ethno/linguistic groups constitute more than 80 of the population: the other large groups are Tiv, Ibibio, Ijaw, Kanuri, Nupe, Gwari, Igala, Jukun, Idoma, and Fulani. The gender divide of Nigeria's population, as indicated by the last census in 1991, reflects an unusual inbalance in favour of male dominance 51 male : 49 female. However the more critical population indices concern High growth rate - 3.2, this is affected by decreased infant mortality and high fertility. High school age population - over 47 are 15 years and below. High child dependency ratio - one dependant to one worker for the working age group 25 - 65. Large work force: working age group 15-59 is over 40 per cent of the population. Due to a massive expansion in the education sector in the last two decades the coloration and quality of the Nigerian work force has changed to include a large corps of highly trained personnel in mechanical, civil, electrical, electronics, chemical and petroleum engineering and bio-technics. There are at peresent over 30 Federal and Stare Universities, some of them specialist - Technology and Agriculture. In addition there are at least 20 Federal and State Polytechnics Over 70,000 graduate in various disciplines from these institutions every year. Disciplines apart from pure sciences, engineering and technologies, include social sciences, business studies (management, banking and finance) and architecture, environment and urban management studies. Also, a sizeable Nigerian population has been and is being trained outside the country, in some of the best colleges in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, Japan, China, etc. Every year about 2,000 of these Nigerians return home to seek employment or accommodation within the economy. For the less skilled and unskilled labour, the country depends on the primary and secondary school systems whose annual enrolments are over 3.5 million and 1.5 million respectively. RESOURCES: AGRICULTURAL, MINERAL AND MARINE Nigeria, in addition to its huge population is endowed with significant agricultural, mineral, marine and forest resources. Its multiple vegetation zones, plentiful rain, surface water and underground water resources and moderate climatic extremes, allow for production of diverse food and cash crops. Over 60 per cent of the population is involved in the production of the following food crops: cassava, maize, rice, yams various beans and legumes, soya, sorghum, ginger, onions, tomatoes, melons and vegetable. The main cash crops are Cocoa, Cotton, Groundouts, Oil Palm, Rubber, etc: extractions from these for export and local industrial use include cocoa flour and butter, rubber crumb, vegetable oil, cotton fibre and yarns, etc. The rain forests have been well exploited for timber and wood products of exotic and popular species. Oil and Gas by value, are the most important minerals. They are exploited and produced in the Niger Delta basin and off-shore on the continental shelf and in the deep-sea of the territorial waters. Nevertheless, there are significant non-oil mineral deposits on land; such as coal, iron ore, gypsum, kaolin, phosphates, limestone, marble, columbite, baryte and gold, many of which have been identified and evaluated. GOVERNMENT The Federal Republic of Nigeria consists of thirty-six states, and the administrative headquarters of Government and capital city is located in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, which is geographically situated in the middle of the country. Effective participation in governance up to the grassroots level is assured through the sharing of powers, revenue and responsibilities between the three tiers of government. That is, the Federal Government, the State Governments and the various Local/ Municipal Councils of each state of the federation. THE ECONOMY With a population of over 110 million people, Nigeria is obviously the largest market in sub-Saharan Africa with reasonably skilled and potential manpower for the efficient and effective management of investment projects within the country. It is well connected by a wide network of motorable all seasons roads, railway tracks, inland waterways, maritime and air transportation. Nigeria's economy could be aptly described as most promising. It is a mixed economy and accommodates all comers, individuals, corporate organisations and government agencies, to invest in almost all range of economic activities. Since 1995, the Government has introduced some bold economic measures which have had a salutary effect on the economy by halting the declining growth in the productive sectors and putting a stop to galloping inflation; they have reduced the debt burden, stabilised the exchange rate of the naira (viz. the local currency) and corrected the balance of payments disequilibrium. In the 1995 and 1996 Budgets, Government put in place some fiscal measures which addressed the exchange rate regime and the capital flight issue which hitherto inhibited project planning execution. The policy of expanded production through guided deregulation paid off in 1996 when the economy recorded a real growth of 3.2% of GDP. The rate of inflation declined appreciably from the high seventies to the low twenties. MAIN THRUST OF NIGERIA'S TRADE AND INDUSTRIALISATION POLICY Nigeria's current industrial policy thrust is anchored on a guided deregulation of the economy and government's dis-engagement from activities which are private-sector oriented, leaving government to play the role of facilitator, concentrating on the provision of incentives, policy and infrastructure that are necessary to enhance the private sector's role as the engine of growth. The industrial policy is intended to: generate productive employment and raise productivity; increase export of locally manufactured goods; create a wider geographical dispersal of industries; improve the technological skills and capability available in the country; increase the local content of industrial output by looking inward for the supply of basic and intermediate inputs; attract direct foreign investment; increase private sector participation. The Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Acts which hitherto regulated the extent and limits of foreign participation in diverse sectors of the economy were repealed in 1995. The principal laws regulating foreign investments now are, the Nigerian Investment and Promotion Commission Decree and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Decree, both enacted in 1995. Given the need to stabilize the banking and finance sectors, and promote confidence in these vital institutions, the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks decrees of 1994 were put in place. The Investment and Securities Decree was also promulgated to update and consolidate capital market laws and regulations into a single code. Under the Privatisation and Commercialisation law of 1988, the government successfully sold its holdings in industrial enterprises . and financial institutions, and such divestments made by way of "Offers for Sale" on the floors of the Exchange, so that ultimate shareholdings in such enterprises could be widespread. However, government retained full control of the public utility service corporations. The 1997 Budget proposed the repeal of all existing laws that inhibit competition in certain sectors of the Nigeria economy. Consequently, with the promulgation of the Public Enterprises Promotion and Commercialisation Decree in 1998, private sector investors (including non-Nigerians) will now be free to participate in and compete with government-owned public utility service corporations in the areas of telecommunications, electricity generation, exploration of petroleum, export refineries, coal and bitumen exploration, hotel and tourism. As a policy objective, the liberalization and de-regulation of the exchange control regime is designed to facilitate and enhance trading activities. Items on the import prohibition list have been drastically reduced, with government opting to utilise tariff structures to protect end-user product pricing of local industries and discourage frivolous imports. In 1998, the import prohibition list was reduced to 11 items namely: Maize, Sorghum, Millet, Wheat Flour, Vegetable oils, (excluding linseed and castor oils used as industrial raw materials ) and Barytes and Bentonites, Gypsum, Mosquito Repellent coils, Domestic articles and wares made of plastic materials (excluding babies' feeding bottles), Retreaded/used tyres, Gaming machines.