Nigeria

Located on the southern coast of Western Africa between Benin and Cameroon is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. More than twice the size of California, Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa, with approximately 110 million people. Nigeria has varied terrain including coastal swamp, tropical rainforest, woodland and semi-desert regions. Despite this variety, 54 percent of the labor force works in agriculture exporting cocoa, tobacco and palm products. Rich in ethnic diversity, different people groups found in Nigeria are the Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba and Ibos. Religious representation is also sharply divided into 50 percent Muslim, 40 percent Christian and 10 percent indigenous beliefs.

Colonized by the Portuguese and the British in the fifteenth century, English is now established as the official language. Since colonization, Nigeria has been plagued by political instability. On October 1, 1963, Nigeria became a republic, little knowing that only five years later it would experience a destructive civil war. Nigeria's unpopular military government has continually overthrown periods of democratic civilian rule, which only adds to mounting economic imbalances. Inflation has weakened the oil-rich economy and inefficiency in agriculture and high population growth has forced this once large exporter of food to import food for subsistence.

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