In the center of the Tenere desert, mobile dunes, almost devoid of vegetation, prevail, and in the southern part, dunes up to 15–20 km long, fixed by plants, are dominated by plants. The northernmost part of Niger, on the border with Algeria and Libya, is occupied by high rocky desert plateaus; in the south there is a plateau composed of loams and sandstones. A special natural region forms the most favorable for life valley of the Niger River in the south-west of the country.

Niger is one of the hottest countries in the world. Three-quarters of its territory is occupied by tropical deserts, where annual precipitation is less than 100 mm and average monthly temperatures exceed 30 °C. To the south of the desert lies the Sahel zone with rainfall up to 600 mm, although droughts are common here. Only in the extreme south-west of the country there is slightly more precipitation - 750 mm per year (falls mainly in July and August). The most characteristic feature of the climate is the sharp diurnal temperature fluctuations: in the morning it can be as low as 13 °C, and after a few hours the air warms up to 30 °C. Vegetation is sparse and, moreover, strongly transformed by man: in the Sahel zone, patches of grassy savannahs with separate groups of trees (Senegalese acacia, gao) have been preserved in places. Of the large animals, there are a few giraffes, lions, antelopes, two large herds of elephants. In the southern regions wild boars and warthogs are quite common.

The ethnic composition of the population (about 20.6 million people) is complex: more than half are Hausa - farmers living along the border with Nigeria in the south of the country. The west is inhabited by the peoples of the Songhai language group. To another economic type belong the Tuareg inhabiting the north and north-west of the country, as well as the Fulani, engaged in nomadic cattle breeding. The vast majority of the population is Muslim. Niamey is not only the capital, but also the most important industrial, transport and cultural center. The university and other educational institutions are located here. It should be noted that the inhabitants of the cities of Niger are characterized by the rule of nationalism, in relation to the visiting Europeans.

Nature

The territory of Niger is located within the ancient African platform. The basement rocks - granites, gneisses and crystalline schists - come to the surface in the north - in the Air massif, in the southwest - on the coast of the Niger River and in the south - between the cities of Zinder and Gure. Air divides the country into western and eastern parts. Its steep steep slopes stand out sharply against the background of the surrounding plateaus. The massif is composed of ancient crystalline rocks intruded by volcanic intrusions. In Air, rich deposits of uranium ores are concentrated in the Arlit and Imuraren regions, as well as coal deposits in Anu-Araren.

In the west and east of the country, the foundation is covered by a layer of sedimentary rocks. Thick oil-bearing layers have been discovered here, which are being developed in the Tin-Tumma area. On the right bank of the Niger River, industrial deposits of iron ore were discovered near the city of Sai and phosphorites near Tapoa and Tahua. Gypsum and tin deposits have also been discovered.

The Air massif has a general slope to the west, where heights reach only 700–800 m. There are many deep valleys with dry riverbeds (locally called kori), which occasionally fill with water during rains. In the central part of the massif, average heights reach 1300–1700 m. Here are the highest points of the country - Tamgak (1988) and Idukaln-Tages (2022 m).

The eastern part of Air abruptly breaks off towards the vast desert of Tenere, where mobile dunes predominate, forming dune ridges and massifs.

In the north of Niger, there are the Mangeni and Jado plateaus, dissected by deep canyons. The average heights of the plateau are 800–900 m (the highest point is 1054 m on the Mangeni plateau).

In the southern regions of the country, leveled plateaus, composed of sandstones, sands and loams with separate outcrops of crystalline rocks, predominate. Average heights are 200–500 m. The monotony of the relief is broken by the heavily dissected Adar-Duchi plateau southeast of Tahoua and the picturesque granite hills in the vicinity of Zinder.

Niger is located in one of the hottest regions in the world. The average annual temperature here is 27–29°C. Evaporation reaches 2000–3000 mm, while the annual precipitation almost never exceeds 600 mm.

The vast northern regions, located in the Sahara Desert, are characterized by a tropical desert climate with high air dryness, high daily temperatures and sharp daily temperature fluctuations (more than 20 °). The southern regions that make up the Sahel zone are distinguished by a variable humid tropical climate with one rainy season lasting from two to four months. Here, too, there are great differences in day and night temperatures, and the midday heat can reach 40 ° C.

If the Sahara generally receives less than 100 mm of precipitation per year and there are areas where it does not rain at all for several years, then in the Sahel region the average annual rainfall in the north does not exceed 300 mm, and in the south, at the latitude of Tahoua and Niamey, sometimes increases to 400–600 mm.

In the extreme southwest of Niger, near the border with the Republic of Benin, the climate is more humid. The average annual rainfall exceeds 800 mm, and the rainy season lasts 5–7 months.

The change of seasons and the amount of precipitation depend on the wind regime. In April - June, a hot dry wind dominates - Harmattan, blowing from the Sahara. In July-August, it is replaced by the southwest monsoon, which brings more humid air from the Atlantic Ocean.

Frequent droughts cause great damage to Niger's agriculture. In 1968-1974, a severe drought broke out throughout the country, accompanied by the death of crops and livestock.

The country's largest river, the Niger, is fed by heavy rainfall in its upper reaches. The flood near the city of Niamey occurs in late January - early February. To the south, near the city of Gaya, two floods are pronounced - in February and September-October. The Niger Valley is the most important agricultural region of the country, in which the waters of the river are widely used for irrigation.

Niger owns part of the water area of ​​Lake Chad, which often changes the shape of the coast and the water level. Depths vary from 1 to 4 m, depending on the amount of precipitation and the volume of river flow. The highest level is in January, the lowest - in July. The lake is rich in fish, but its shores, heavily overgrown with grasses and shrubs, are swampy and difficult to access.

The main part of the territory of Niger is located in the desert zone and only 1/4 is in the savannah zone. In the north, in the desert of Tenere and on the plateau of Air, Jado, etc., only after the rains does a bright carpet of ephemeral herbaceous plants appear, which lasts for several weeks, and then dries up. Palm trees grow in oases - date and doum.

The savannas of the Sahel are dominated by cereals and other grasses, as well as thorny shrubs and rare trees. The natural vegetation here is severely affected by livestock grazing.

As you move south, more trees are found in the savannas, especially acacias with umbrella crowns. Baobabs, palm trees (dum, etc.) also grow, and bearded vulture and elephant grass predominate among the grasses. In the extreme southwest, woody vegetation begins to dominate, large trees with lush green crowns appear: bombaks (cotton tree), mangoes with bright orange fruits, papayas and palms. Bamboos grow along the rivers.

Numerous rodents, fennec fox, oryx and addax antelopes are found in the deserts of Niger. Graceful gazelles, many predators (cheetah, hyena, jackal) live in the expanses of the savannas. The world of birds is rich: there are ostriches, eagles, white-headed vultures, kites.

In the southern savanna, giraffes, antelopes and wild boars have survived in some places among large mammals, and lions among predators. On the right bank of the Niger and near Lake Chad there are large herds of elephants. There are hippos and crocodiles in the rivers. Birds are especially numerous: ducks, geese, waders, herons, cranes, ibises, storks, black marabou. Among them are many migratory species. Lots of insects, especially termites and locusts.

Natural reserves have been created in the area of ​​the Air mountain plateau and the Tener desert.

Story

Before the establishment of French power at the end of the 19th century. Niger's history has included tribal migrations, conflicts between newcomers and natives, the rise and fall of state formations, and rivalries between them. In the 11th century Tuareg, nomadic pastoralists of Berber origin, who came from North Africa, settled in the Air Plateau region. They assimilated some of the Hausa farmers who then lived in the most elevated areas of the plateau, and pushed the rest south to the territory located between the modern cities of Tahoua and Zinder. Starting from the 14th century. The Hausa created their own city-states on the territory of southern Niger. The confederation formed by the Tuareg (Air Sultanate) was rather amorphous, but one of its rulers, Yusuf, founded the city of Agadez, which in 1430 became the capital of Air (hence the name "Agades Sultanate"). In the 16th century The army of the State of Songhai (centered in Gao) captured vast areas of western and central Niger, including the Sultanate of Agadez. Agadez prospered due to the fact that caravan routes crossed there, connecting the capital of Songhay, the city of Gao on the Niger River, with Tripolitania and Egypt.

After the conquest of Songhai by Moroccan troops in 1591, control over part of the Air region and the Hausa lands in the southeast, including Zinder, was established by the state of Bornu with its capital in Ngazargamu (on the territory of modern Nigeria). Other Hausa, who created the city-states of Gobir, Katsina and Daura and withstood the onslaught of the states of Songhai and Kebbi, managed to maintain their independence, albeit a very fragile one. Frequent civil strife and clashes with other Hausan states did not prevent the prosperity of these city-states due to developed agriculture and crafts, as well as participation in the trans-Saharan trade.

At the beginning of the 17th century. many Djerma settlers from the Songhai state settled east of the Niger River and became settled farmers. At the same time, a new wave of Tuareg appeared on the territory of Niger, moving south towards the Niger River. Other Tuareg groups were re-established in the 18th century. their independence and moved west to raid the lands of the former state of Songhai. At the beginning of the 19th century the Hausan lands and the western part of Bornu became the scene of a holy war of jihad, led by the Muslim theologian and reformer Osman dan Fodio, an ethnic Fulbe. He succeeded in establishing Fulbe power in most of Northern Nigeria and in the southern regions of Niger. The state of Bornu, revived under the leadership of the Muslim preacher and commander al-Kanemi, repelled the onslaught of the Fulani and controlled the southeastern part of Niger until the appearance there at the end of the 19th century. Sudanese conqueror Rabbah.

When in the 19th century the first European travelers appeared in Niger, they found this region in a state of complete anarchy and saw disintegrating state formations and small isolated settlements, whose inhabitants could not defend themselves from aggressive warlike neighbors. In 1806, the Scottish traveler Mungo Park went down the Niger River, and in 1822 the Scot Hugh Clapperton and the Englishman Dixon Denham set out from Tripoli across the Sahara and reached Lake Chad. In 1853–1855, the German explorer Heinrich Barth, who was in the British service, went with his expedition from the Niger River to Lake Chad. In 1870, another German explorer, Gustav Nachtigal, crossed the territory of the Sahara from the Bilma oasis to Ngigmi near Lake Chad. Although there were no French among these researchers, at the international Berlin conference of 1884–1885 on the division of Africa, the region of the upper reaches of the Niger River was declared a zone of French interests. In 1890, representatives of Great Britain and France came to an agreement on the establishment of a demarcation line between the zones of interests of Great Britain and France, which ran from the city of Sai on the Niger River to Garoua on Lake Chad. In 1898 and 1904 this boundary was adjusted to reflect the results of new research and "actual occupation". In 1891–1892, Lieutenant Colonel P.L. Montey, on behalf of the French government, surveyed the territory of this region, as a result of which, after 1897, a number of French military posts were created between the Niger River and Lake Chad. Due to the stubborn resistance of the Tuareg to the French colonial expansion, Agadez was captured only in 1904. The Tuareg did not accept the loss of independence and during the First World War raised an uprising against the French authorities, which was suppressed after the war, but the French could not establish effective control over Tuareg nomads. In addition, the French faced fierce resistance from the tuba nomads in the eastern part of Niger, which they managed to break only in 1922.

In 1900, the “military autonomous territory of Zinder” was created (in 1910 it was transformed into the “military territory of Niger”), which was included in the colony of Upper Senegal-Niger, which was part of French West Africa (FZA). In 1922, the territory of Niger was separated into a separate colony within the FZA. In 1926 the administrative center of the colony was moved from Zinder to Niamey.

Prior to the introduction of the French constitution in 1946, there were no political organizations of the modern type in Niger. The constitution provided for African representation in the local governments of the colonies, which became "overseas territories" and were also represented in the French National Assembly. In 1946, the first political party in Niger, the Niger Progressive Party (NPP), was created, which became one of the sections of the African Democratic Union (ADO), which operated in all the FZA colonies. Pretty soon, the NPP began to lose its authority, and in 1951 a split occurred in it, caused by the unwillingness of the left wing, led by the radical trade union leader Djibo Bakari, to follow the political line of part of the leadership of the DOA to refuse to cooperate with the French Communist Party. In 1957, D. Bakari created a new party in opposition to the NPP - the Niger Democratic Union (since 1958 - Sawaba). In the first elections held in 1957 after the introduction of a law that granted the "overseas territories" greater autonomy, Bakari's party won the majority of seats in the Niger parliament, and he himself took the post of prime minister. During the campaign on the eve of the referendum on the draft French constitution of 1958, in which the population of the French colonies in Africa had to vote either for joining the French Community or for breaking all ties with the mother country, Sawaba advocated the complete independence of Niger. In this situation, the NPP, together with the leaders and other political forces, formed the coalition "Union for the Franco-African Community". In the referendum, the results of which, however, are considered controversial, 78% of the votes were cast for the entry of Niger into the French Community. The new government was headed by NPP leader Amani Diori. In the December 1958 parliamentary elections, the NPP won a majority of seats in the National Assembly. The following year, Sawaba's party was banned, MPs on its lists expelled from parliament, and party leaders expelled from Niger.

After Niger's independence was proclaimed in August 1960, A. Diori became president of the country; in 1965 and 1970 he was re-elected for a new term. Diori's conservative regime maintained close political and economic ties with France. Throughout the 1960s, there were clashes between supporters of the Sawaba party and state law enforcement forces. Niger suffered more than other countries in the Sahel zone from the drought of 1969-1974, which caused massive famine. The number of livestock has been sharply reduced in the country. After the information spread that foreign aid did not reach the starving population due to the inefficiency and venality of the authorities, the authority of the Diori regime was sharply shaken. In April 1974 he was overthrown in a military coup. Power passed to the Supreme Military Council (VVS), headed by Lieutenant Colonel Seini Kunche. The end of the drought and rising world prices for uranium helped the military government make some headway in rebuilding the economy, although the country continued to languish in poverty. The military leadership of Niger sought to maintain close ties with France, and when Libya invaded neighboring Chad in 1980, it began to strengthen relations with the Arab countries and the states of West Africa.

Since 1989, power in Niger has passed into the hands of Ali Saibu, the chief of staff of the armed forces. He introduced a new constitution that allowed for a multiparty system and founded the National Development Society Movement (Nassara) party. In 1989 the constitution was suspended and the National Assembly dissolved. Amadou Cheiffou became the head of the interim government and began preparations for the parliamentary and presidential elections. In 1993, for the first time, a representative of the Hausa people Mahamane Usman was elected president of the country, who held this post until January 1996, when a coup d'état took place. The prime minister and the speaker of parliament were removed from their positions. The Council of National Reconciliation (CNR) was created, headed by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, I. Barre Mainasara. The new constitution, introduced on May 22, 1996, banned the activities of political parties. In July 1996, Mainasara was elected president of the country, and in November 1996 parliamentary elections were held.

In early 1999, parliamentary and local elections were held. However, their results were annulled by the Supreme Court in February, as they did not suit the country's leadership (many representatives of opposition parties emerged as winners). Dissatisfaction with the ruling regime is ripening in the country. And on April 9, Mainasara was killed. The head of the presidential guard, Major Dauda Malam Vanke (a native of the Hausa people), was appointed head of state and chairman of the SNP.

The 1999 presidential elections were held in two rounds - October 17 and November 24. 7 candidates participated in the first round, in the second - the struggle for the presidency unfolded between the candidate from the party "National Movement for a Development Society - Nassara" (NDO - Nassara) Mamadou Tanja and Mahamadou Issoufou - leader of the "Nigerian Party for Democracy and Socialism" (NPDS ). M. Tanja was elected President of the country, who received 59.89% of the votes.

In the parliamentary elections held on November 24, 1999, the NDOR-Nassara party also won a landslide victory (38 out of 86 seats in the National Assembly).

In 2000, the government launched a two-year program of intensive economic reforms. The program envisaged, first of all, the privatization and re-profiling of state-owned enterprises, as well as the reduction of budget expenditures for social needs. Until 2003, real GDP was negative.

In the presidential elections of 2004, which were held in two rounds (November 16 and December 4), Tanja again won. In the second round of elections, M. Issufu was his political opponent.

In the elections to the National Assembly, held on December 4, 2004, the NDOR-Nassara party won a landslide victory (47 out of 113 seats). The Party for Democracy and Socialism of the Niger (NPDS) won 25 seats, the Democratic and Social Convention (DSC) 22 seats, the remaining 19 seats went to the SDS, UDP, the Niger Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress and the NSDP. Mahaman Usman, Chairman of the DSK, was elected Chairman of the Parliament.

The country's economy is largely dependent on foreign aid. The main financial donors are France, the IMF, and Japan (in 1997, it provided Niger with gratuitous assistance in the amount of 300 million yen for the development of the country's agricultural sector). Niger receives IMF financial assistance under the HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries) program, provided to the poorest countries with high external debt. In April 2004, the IMF canceled $663.1 million of Niger's debt. In February 2005, the Fund decided to provide Niger with a loan of $10 million to implement an economic development program up to 2008. At the same time, the IMF put forward a requirement for the government of Niger to use the funds received to fight poverty and ensure annual GDP growth of 4 %. In 2004, GDP amounted to 9.7 billion dollars, and its growth was 3.5%.

By the summer of 2005, an extremely difficult situation had developed in the country: due to a long drought, as well as an invasion of locusts that destroyed crops, famine began. The UN estimates that 2.5 million people in Niger are in need of urgent food assistance. A particularly critical situation has developed in the northwestern regions of the country. France was the first to provide food aid under the auspices of the UN: in July, a batch of 18 tons of humanitarian supplies was sent to Niger. The total amount of French aid to Niger will be approx. 5 million euros (together with additional food aid of 1.5 million euros). Germany also sent a large consignment of food in July. Nigeria donated 1,000 tons of grain to help the famine-stricken Niger.

In January 2005, President Tanja was elected chairman of ECOWAS. The last changes in the government were made on February 12, 2005. In December 2005, the Francophone Games will be held in Niamey. In order to prepare sports events, France has allocated more than 10 million euros to Niger for the development of the infrastructure of the capital.

Economy

Niger is an agricultural country. It ranks second (after Sierra Leone) in the world in terms of poverty. According to the UN ca. 3.5 million people suffer from hunger. The annual income of 75% of the population is $365, of which 35% live below the poverty line. 40% of the population (mostly in rural areas) suffers from chronic malnutrition.

The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 39% (2001), 85% of the population is employed in it (2005, estimate). 3.54% of the land is cultivated (2001). Agricultural production is almost entirely dependent on rainfall. The annual growth of production in the agricultural sector is approx. 2%. The main export crops are peanuts and vegetables. Oranges, bananas, legumes, corn, millet, rice, sugarcane, sorghum, cotton and tobacco are also grown. Nomadic animal husbandry is developed (breeding of camels, horses, cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats). Fish catch in 2000 amounted to 16.27 thousand tons.

Share in GDP - 17% (2001). The main industries are mining and manufacturing. Niger ranks third (after Canada and Australia) in the world in terms of uranium mining. Its share in the country's exports is constantly decreasing, in 2002 it was 32% (in 1990 - 60%). Coal and gold are also mined. There are enterprises for processing agricultural products, including the production of peanut butter, flour and beer. There are small factories of the textile and leather industries.

The volume of imports significantly exceeds the volume of exports: in 2002, imports (in US dollars) amounted to 400 million, and exports - 280 million. The main imports are grain, foodstuffs, machinery and oil. Main import partners: France (17.4%), Ivory Coast (11.3%), Italy (8.4%), Nigeria (7.3%), Germany (6.5%), USA (5 .5%) and China (4.8%) - 2004. Main export commodities - uranium ore, livestock, livestock products and vegetables. Main export partners - France (47.1%, is the main importer of Niger uranium), Nigeria (22.7%), Japan (8.6%) and USA (5.4%) - 2004.

The monetary unit is the CFA franc (XOF), consisting of 100 centimes. In December 2004, the national currency rate was: 1 USD = 528.3 XOF.

Economic and geographical position of Nigeria

Between Benin and Cameroon in West Africa on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea lies the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The country has an open outlet to the Atlantic Ocean through the Gulf of Guinea in the south.

The land border passes with Niger, Benin, Cameroon and Chad. The border with Chad passes through the lake of the same name. The coastline stretches for 853 km and is cut by deep bays, lagoons and channels.

Nigeria is characterized by economic and socio-geographical originality:

• in terms of population, the country ranks first on the continent;
• provided with rich resources and their territorial combination;
• strengthened its place and role in the world capitalist economy;
• one of the ten largest oil exporters;
• ranks first in oil production among African countries.

Public transport in the country is represented mainly by buses and taxis. In addition to road transport, rail transport is developing, which is second in length after South Africa.

Relations with other countries are maintained through air and sea transport. There are two major international airports in Nigeria - Murtala Mohammed Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport.

Export crops of the traditional plan are oil palm, cocoa, peanuts, rubber plants, cotton.

Imports fall on machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food. The main trading partners of Nigeria are France, USA, Great Britain, Brazil.

Economic interest in cooperation with African countries, including Nigeria, is growing from China. The first trade agreement between Nigeria and China was signed in November 1972, and by the beginning of 2005 there were already 90 Chinese companies on the Nigerian market.

Remark 1

The key object of Chinese interests is Nigerian oil.

Significant progress in Russian-Nigerian relations was noted after the signing of the Memorandums of Understanding in 2008. The Memoranda noted the issues of regulating the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the participation of the Russian Energy Corporation in the exploration and development of hydrocarbon reserves in Nigeria.

Trade relations link Nigeria with South Africa.

There are several blocks of recommendations in trade and economic relations with the BRICS countries:

the level of competitive cooperation with the BRICS countries is still low, due to the monocultural nature of Nigerian exports, which cannot ensure the growth of the Nigerian economy;

importing machinery and equipment, the country cannot establish the production of elementary parts and components;

it is advisable to develop measures for a balanced policy of import supplementation, which will guarantee the import of relevant goods into the country at competitively low prices;

the level of trade integration of Nigeria with Russia and the EAEU countries remains low, therefore, it is expedient to exchange knowledge and technologies with all participants and partners in the EAEU.

Natural conditions of Nigeria

The Niger and its left tributary, the Benue, divide the country into two parts - the flat southern part, occupied by the Maritime Plain, and the slightly elevated northern part, occupied by low plateaus.

The plain formed by the sediments of the rivers stretches from west to east for hundreds of kilometers. It is separated from the ocean by a narrow 16 km belt of coastal swamps.

A chain of sand spits formed along the coast in the western part of the plain. They connect not only with each other, but also with the Gulf of Guinea.

The gradual rise of the terrain occurs in a northerly direction and ends with a series of stepped plateaus - Yoruba, Udi, Jos. The maximum height here is noted in the central part on the Shebshi plateau - this is Vogel Peak (2042 m).

The height of the plateau to the northwest gradually decreases and passes into the Sokoto plain, and in the northeast into the Bornu plain.

Near the border with Cameroon is the highest point - Mount Chappal Waddi (2419 m).

In general, the country is located on a low plateau, the height of which is about 600 m above sea level.

Inland, the Nsukka-Okigwi Escarpment, the Biu Plateau and the Adamawa Mountains rise above the Cross Valley.

Climate formation is influenced by equatorial sea air and tropical continental.

The first carries wet winds, the second is a dry and dusty wind blowing from the Sahara desert. It is called harmatan.

In some regions of the country, the climate will be different. It becomes drier and healthier as you move north.

In the center of the country, there are more sunny days and cooler nights. In the very north of the country it is very hot and dry, and the nights are cold. Harmattan dominates here from December to March.

The coast of the country is characterized by a wet season from March to October. Precipitation here falls 1800-3800 mm.

The bay is warm throughout the year, but swimming is very dangerous due to the strong tides.

Intense rains take place in Lagos, and the rainiest place is Calabar, heavy rains go here until December.

The wet season begins and ends with intense heat accompanied by thunderstorms.

The dry season lasts from October to February. The northern margin receives less than 25 mm.

Temperatures within the country are approximately the same both in the north and in the south. During the dry period in the north of the country, there are significant daily fluctuations, sometimes frosts occur.

Natural resources of Nigeria

Decent economic situation of Nigeria provides oil and natural gas. Hydrocarbon deposits are concentrated on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean - Ughelli, Bomu, Imo River, etc. Explored oil reserves were estimated at 2.0 billion tons.

According to estimates, coal deposits amounted to 400 million tons. Deposits of lignite and brown coal - 200 million tons.

Deposits of niobium, tin, tungsten, and molybdenum are known on the Jos Plateau.

There are gold deposits in the north-west of the country - Birnin-Gvari and others.

Lead-zinc ores occur in the deposits of the Benue graben - Ameka, Nieba, Abakaliki, iron ore - the Patti deposit. According to estimates, 2.0 billion tons are concentrated in the deposit. There are titanium ore.

The soils of Nigeria do not have much variety and all are acidic.

Soils in the eastern part of the country, formed on sandstones, experience intense leaching, and this leads to the formation of "acid sands". They have the peculiarity that they are easy to process, but very quickly depleted.

In the north of the country, soils were formed from desert sands, so they are easily destroyed.

In the floodplains and in the Niger Delta, fertile soils have formed on heavy loams.

Remark 3

The main river is the Niger, which gave the name to the country, its largest tributary is the Benue. The Niger carries its waters to the Atlantic Ocean and is the third African river in importance after the Nile and the Congo.

There are rivers flowing into Lake Chad, such as Imo and Cross. They originate on the Jos Plateau, but due to rapids and waterfalls, as well as seasonal fluctuations in water levels, navigation is limited on them.

In the western part of Africa there is a beautiful country rich in nature - Nigeria, the largest in terms of population on the continent, even one of the ten most populated countries in the world. The country is home to more than a hundred million people belonging to 200 nationalities: for, Hausa, Edo, Tiv, Yoruba and many others. All these peoples are original and interesting: the Yoruba, for example, make three deep incisions on their cheeks in childhood, and the Hausa living in the north are the descendants of Arabs and Lebanese who profess Islam. The official language in the country is English, so travelers do not have problems with communication and orientation in Nigeria, although local dialects are often used in the provinces. The second official language is French.

Nigeria

The name of the country comes from the name of the Niger River - from the Tuareg language it translates as "flowing water". Nigeria is a presidential federal republic, it is part of the Commonwealth. Now the political life of the country is not very stable, the military plays a big role in it.

Geographic location of Nigeria

Nigeria borders with Niger in the north, with Benin in the west, with Chad and Cameroon in the east, in the south the country is washed by the Gulf of Guinea. Thus, the country occupies vast territories with an area of ​​​​almost a million square kilometers (32nd in the world in terms of area). In the northeast, Nigeria goes to the shores of the famous African Lake Chad.

The Niger River flows through the country with a tributary of the Benue, dividing Nigeria into two parts: the first, south of the river valleys, lies on the Maritime Plain near the Gulf of Guinea, the second is occupied by low plateaus and West African savannahs. In the northwest of the country is the Sokoto Plain, lying in the basin of the river of the same name, in the northeast lies the Bornu Plain. In Nigeria, there are not only savannas, but also tropical forests, which become dry and deciduous in the north. And yet, most of the territory is covered with tall grass savannah, which sometimes alternates with areas of park savannah. In the north lies the dry Sudanese savannah, in the northeast - the Sahelian with a small amount of vegetation. Only off the coast of Chad there is a lot of lush greenery, papyrus and reeds.

Nature of Nigeria

The soil of Nigeria is almost not fertile, but the country has many reserves of oil and other minerals: zinc, iron, uranium, coal, graphite, limestone.

The fauna of Nigeria is very diverse: giraffes, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos, hyenas, baboons, chimpanzees and many other exotic animals live here, as well as many birds.

The climate of Nigeria belongs to the equatorial monsoon, in the north - subequatorial climate. The humidity here is very high, and the average temperature for the year exceeds 25 degrees.

History of Nigeria

People first appeared on the territory of modern Nigeria more than four thousand years ago. Around 2000 BC, the local population began to master agriculture and the domestication of animals. Permanent settlements appeared, which allowed them to defend themselves from enemies. Scientists claim that the Nok culture, dating back to just 2000 BC, lived in such conditions. In addition, the Nok people already knew how to process and smelt iron and tin, make weapons and conquer new territories.

Geographic location of Nigeria.

NIGERIA, Federal Republic of Nigeria, a state in West Africa. From the south, Nigeria is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria borders on Niger, Benin, Kamerno, Republic of Chad. Included in the Commonwealth. The area of ​​Nigeria is 923.8 thousand km2. The largest country in Africa in terms of population (133.88 million people, 2003). The capital of Nigeria is Abuja. The main city and the actual capital is Lagos, other large cities are Kano, Ibadan, Kaduna, Port Hartcourt.

State structure of Nigeria.

Nigeria is a federal republic headed by a president. The legislature is the bicameral National Assembly. During the years of independence, there have been several military coups, several constitutions have changed, the last one was adopted in 1999.

Administrative-territorial division of Nigeria.

According to the administrative-territorial division, Nigeria consists of 30 states and 1 federal territory of Abuja.

population of Nigeria.

Nigeria is Africa's largest country in terms of population (133.88 million people, 2003). Ethnic composition: over 250 nationalities and groups, the most numerous: Fulani and Hausa 29%, Yoruba 21%, for 18%, Ijo 10%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%, Bini, etc. About 50% of believers - Muslims, 40% - Christians (mostly Protestants), 10% - adhere to traditional beliefs. The official language of Nigeria is English. The actual resettlement of peoples and tribes does not coincide with the division of the country into states, which has repeatedly led to armed conflicts. There is also division between Christians and Muslims. In states where Muslims are in power, the judiciary is based on Sharia law. The population density of Nigeria is 144.9 people/km2. Urban population 39%.

Climate, relief and natural resources of Nigeria.

From the south, Nigeria is washed by the Gulf of Guinea, in the northeast it goes to the shores of Lake Chad. The Niger River with the Benue tributary divides the country into two parts: to the south of their valleys, most of the territory is occupied by the Maritime Plain, and low plateaus extend to the north. The coastal plain is formed by sediments of rivers and stretches for hundreds of kilometers from west to east. To the north, the area gradually rises and passes into stepped plateaus (Yoruba, Udi, Jos, etc.) with heights in the central part up to 2042 m (Vogel Peak on the Shebshi Plateau) and numerous remnant rocks. In the northwest, the plateaus merge into the Sokoto Plain (basin of the river of the same name), and in the northeast into the Bornu Plain.

The climate of Nigeria in almost the entire territory of Nigeria is equatorial, monsoonal. The rainiest and coolest month is August. The greatest amount of precipitation (up to 4000 mm per year) falls in the Niger Delta, in the extreme northeast - only 500 mm. The driest period is winter, when the harmattan wind blows from the northeast, bringing the heat of the day and sharp diurnal temperature changes.

Nigeria is characterized by both savannas and tropical forests. Once tropical rainforests occupied most of its territory, but now they are distributed only in the Maritime Plain and in river valleys. Deciduous dry tropical forests are widespread in the north of the forest zone. Almost half of the country's territory is occupied by tall-grass (wet Guinean) savannah, alternating with areas of park savannahs (with sparse trees - kaya, isoberlinia, mitragina). To the north of the zone of tall grass savannah, the dry Sudanese savannah stretches with characteristic umbrella acacias, baobabs and thorny bushes. In the extreme north-east of the country, the so-called Sahelian savanna with sparse vegetation stretches. And only off the shores of Lake Chad is an abundance of lush greenery, thickets of reeds and papyrus.

The wildlife of Nigeria is just as diverse, preserved in national parks and reserves (in particular, in the Yankari Reserve, on the Bauchi Plateau). Elephants, giraffes, rhinos, leopards, hyenas, numerous antelopes (including the forest pygmy antelope dikdik) are widespread, large herds of buffalo are found, in some places the scaly anteater, chimpanzee and gorilla, monkeys, baboons, pottos have been preserved. The world of birds is rich in forests, savannahs, especially along river banks.

Economy and Industry of Nigeria.

The economy of Nigeria is based on the oil industry and agriculture. Despite being the 13th largest oil producer in the world, its GNP per capita is $310 (1999).

Tin, limestone and natural gas are also mined in significant quantities in Nigeria. Tungsten, tantalum, thorium, zircon, uranium, polymetallic ores, gold, etc. are also mined. Agriculture accounts for up to two-fifths of GDP and employs up to 50% of the economically active population. Cocoa, rubber and palm kernels are the only export crops. For domestic consumption, cassava, yams and sweet potatoes, sorghum and millet, corn, and rice are grown. Other crops are peanuts, oil palm, cotton. An important role in crop production is played by the cultivation of legumes, sugarcane, vegetables and fruits.

Animal husbandry in Nigeria is extensive. OK. 90% of livestock is concentrated in the northern part of the country (where there is no tsetse fly). The traditional dressing of leather is preserved, the leather made from goats is especially valued - “red morocco”. Domestic production is not enough to feed a rapidly growing population and Nigeria is an importer of food, especially grain.

Approximately an eighth of Nigeria is covered by forests and the country has the necessary potential for the development of the forest industry, but predatory deforestation has hampered the development of this industry and has been the cause of catastrophic droughts since the 1960s.

Despite the growth in production, the manufacturing industry remains largely small-scale. With the help of the USSR, a metallurgical plant was built in Ajaokuta. The assembly lines of the Volkswagen, Peugeot, and Fiat factories are functioning.

History of Nigeria.

On the territory of modern Nigeria in ancient times there were cultures of the Iron Age. In the Middle Ages, the Hausa states of Kanem-Bornu, Benin and others were formed on the territory of Nigeria. They were destroyed by the Fulani nomads who formed their own emirate. In the 15th century The Portuguese landed on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and began the slave trade. The coast became known as the Slave Coast. In the 17th century The British replaced the Portuguese.

In the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. The colonial conquest of Nigeria by Great Britain was completed (since 1914 it was called the “Nigeria Colony and Protectorate”). October 1, 1960 Nigeria received the status of an independent state. October 1, 1963 - federal republic. Since 1966, a period of military coups began. In May 1967, Eastern Nigeria announced its separation from the rest of the country and the proclamation of the independent state of Biafra. In the ensuing three-year civil war, the separatists were defeated and capitulated. In 1976-1985, several military regimes changed, and corruption grew. In 1993, the military regime of General S. Abacha was introduced in the country, political parties were dissolved, censorship was introduced, and an attempt was made to carry out reforms under the control of the IMF.

In 1998, after the death of General Abacha, power passed to General O. Obasanjo (previously led the country (1976-1979)). Obasanjo began a new stage of reforms, conducted an investigation into corruption (in particular, he announced that General Abacha and his entourage had hidden $1 billion in secret accounts). The determining factor is the presence of transnational corporations in Nigeria (Royal Dutch-Shell controls all oil production) and the corruption of officials (in this indicator, Nigeria is in first place in the world). The federal government of Nigeria has little influence in states with a predominantly Muslim population.

The official name is the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Located in the western part of Africa. The area is 923.8 thousand km2, the population is 120 million people. (2001). The official language is English. The capital is Abuja. Public holiday - Independence Day October 1 (since 1960). The monetary unit is naira (equal to 100 kobo).

Member ok. 60 international organizations, incl. UN (since 1960) and its specialized organizations, the AU, the British Commonwealth, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the OIC, the Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, etc.

Sights of Nigeria

Archaeological site of Sungbo's Eredo

Geography of Nigeria

It is located between 2°40′ and 14° east longitude and 14° and 4° north latitude, in the west it borders with Benin, in the north with Niger, in the northeast with Chad, in the east and southeast with Cameroon, from the south it is washed by waters of the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. The coastline (853 km) is relatively straight, little indented, with the exception of the Niger Delta region. 2/3 of the territory of Nigeria are vast leveled plateaus, the rest are plains. The narrow coastal plain turns into stepped plateaus: Yo-ruba, Udi, Jos and others. Peaks: Vogel (2042 m), Shere (1735 m), Wadi (1698 m). To the north of the Jos Plateau, the terrain drops off into the Hausa High Plain.

Nigeria is among the top ten world oil exporters (reserves of 22.5 billion barrels - approx. 3% of the world). Natural gas reserves 124 trillion m3 (10th place in the world). The bowels are rich in coal, uranium, iron ore, columbite, tin, lead, manganese, zinc, gold, tungsten, limestone, asbestos, graphite, kaolin, mica and other raw materials.

Soils in Nigeria are infertile. The coastal plain is covered with red-yellow lateritic soils, the Yoruba plateau and the Northern plateau are red lateritic, the northern plains are red-brown and the northwestern regions are black soils of dry savannahs.

The climate is tropical, equatorial monsoon. The arrival of the "dry season" or "rainy season" is determined by the tropical front, i.e. the zone of contact of the winds: blowing from the north, from the side of the desert, hot, dry and carrying a lot of dust "har-mattan" and wet monsoons that originate in the south of the Atlantic. The maximum temperature of the “dry season” (December-January) on the coast at high humidity is +35°C, in the north at lower humidity +31°C, the “rainy season” (April-May) +23°С and +18°C respectively. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the Niger Delta and in the eastern part of the coast - up to 4000 mm, the least in the northeast, in the Maiduguri region - less than 600 mm per year. In the central part of the country, their level is approx. 1200 mm per year, in the far north and northeast - up to 500 mm.

Nigeria is located in the basin of the middle and lower reaches of the Niger River, which joins its main tributary, the Benue, in the center of the country. Other important rivers of the country are Sokoto, Kaduna, Anambra, Katsina Ala, Gongola, Ogun, Oshun, Imo and Cross. Lake Chad is located in the northeast.

A narrow strip of mangrove and freshwater swamps on the coast is replaced by a forest zone (mahogany and oil palm) with wet tropical dry tropical forests turning into deciduous. The zone of humid (Guinean tall-grass), park (with sparse trees - kaya, isoberlinia, mitragina) and desert (dry Sudanese with characteristic umbrella acacias, baobabs and tamarinds, as well as thorny bushes) savannah occupies approx. 1/2 territory. The Hausa High Plain is a semi-desert.

There are 274 species of mammals in Nigeria, incl. elephants, giraffes, rhinos, leopards, hyenas, numerous species of antelopes, scaly anteater, chimpanzee, gorilla, and other types of monkeys - monkeys, baboons, lemurs, etc. In the swamps and tropical forests of the south of the country, a large number of snakes and crocodiles live. The world of birds is bright and rich (over 680 species).

Population of Nigeria

Population growth 1.91% (2002 est.). Birth rate 39.22%, mortality 14.1%, infant mortality 72.49 people. per 1000 newborns. Life expectancy 50.59 years, incl. women 50.6 and men - 50.58 years. Age structure: 0-14 years old - 43.6%, 15-64 years old - 53.6%, 65 years and older - 2.8% of the population. In the entire population, there are 3% more men than women. Approx. 1/3 of the population, 57.1% of adults are literate, incl. 67.3% male and 47.3% female (1995 est.).

The ethnic composition of the population of St. 250 nations, the largest: Hausa-Fulani - 29%, Yoruba - 21%, Igbo - 18%, Ijo - 10%, Ibibio - 3.5%, Tiv - 2.5%, Bini, etc. Languages ​​​​- English, among more than 400 local languages ​​and dialects, the main ones spoken are Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.

OK. 50% of the population is Muslim (Nigeria belongs to the Organization of the Islamic Conference), 40% are Christians and 10% are adherents of local religious beliefs.

History of Nigeria

In the 16th century Europeans invaded what is now Nigeria. Its coast, which became the center of the slave trade, was called the Slave Coast. The colonization of Nigeria by Great Britain ended in the first decade of the 20th century. - in 1914, a single formation of the "Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria" arose within the modern borders (the northern part of British Cameroon was annexed to the country in 1961) of the Federation. Nigeria became an independent state on October 1, 1960, and on October 1, 1963, the Federal Republic of Nigeria was proclaimed.

The history of independent Nigeria is characterized by a continuous series of political crises, which are based on regional, ethnic and confessional contradictions, acute personal rivalry between political leaders, rampant corruption, etc. For 43 years of independence, 10 regimes have changed in the country, incl. For 29 years, its leadership had military leaders who seized power by force. Therefore, the military leadership almost constantly faced the question of returning the country to civilian rule.

The military entered the political arena of Nigeria in January 1966. They overthrew the government of the First Republic, but power passed to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Major General A.J. Agiyi-Ironsi, who proclaimed Nigeria a unitary state. On July 29, 1966, a new military coup took place, and the country was headed by Lieutenant Colonel (later General) Yakubu Gowon. Despite the return of Nigeria to a federal system, mass pogroms and the exodus of the Igbos from the Northern Region, as well as the exit from the federation of the Eastern Region - the homeland of the Igbos and the creation of a separatist state - the "Republic of Biafra" (May 1967) led to a bloody internecine war (July 1967 - January 1970). The war claimed approx. 2 million lives and brought victory to the supporters of federalism.

The “oil boom” (by the mid-1970s, Nigeria ranked 5th in the world in terms of oil production and became one of its leading world exporters) contributed to the recovery of the economy and some stabilization in Nigeria. However, Gowon's inconsistency in transferring power to a civilian government led to his overthrow. The new head of the country, General Murtala R. Mohammed, dealt a massive blow to corruption, carried out an administrative reform and made a number of other important decisions, the main of which was the development of a clear program for the transfer of power to a civilian government. It was carried out by his successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo, who in 1979 surrendered his powers to the democratically elected President of the Second Republic, Shehu Shagari.

On the eve of the new 1994, the military junta of General M. Bukhari overthrew the Shagari government. The next coup in August 1985 brought General I. Babangida to power, who managed to hold general elections in 1993, which were won by Moshud Abiola. However, an attempt to disavow their results led to the fall of the Babangida regime itself, and power was transferred to the so-called. to the interim transitional government of E. Shonekan.

The Third Republic fell when in October 1993 power in Abuja was seized by the "tyrant of the Stone Age" General Sani Abacha, whose rule was characterized by a sharp deterioration in the socio-economic situation in the country, an increase in corruption and embezzlement of public funds, and rampant repression. Nigeria has fallen into a period of broad international isolation. The death of the dictator in June 1998 gave impetus to the resumption of the democratic process. Already on May 29, 1999, the military regime transferred power in the country to O. Obasanjo, the president of the Fourth Republic, elected in the general elections. In April 2003, Obasanjo was re-elected president for a second term.

State structure and political system of Nigeria

Nigeria is a republic with a 1999 constitution.
Nigeria is a federation of 36 states (Abia, Adamawa, Aqua Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebony, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina , Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara) and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.
The largest cities: Lagos (13 million inhabitants), Ibadan, Ogbomosho, Kano, Oshogbo, Ilorin, Abeokuta, Port Harcourt, Zaria, Ilesha, Onich, Ivo.

The government of Nigeria is carried out by three branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial. The highest legislative body is the National Assembly, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The supreme body of executive power is the president, who is the head of state, the head of the executive power of the Federation, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation. The president nominates a member of the same political party for which he is running for vice president. Ministers of the National Executive Council - the government of the Federation are appointed by the President and then confirmed by the Senate. Executive authorities include the State Council, which carries out advisory functions under the President. The head of state and the highest body of executive power is the president. O. Obasanjo took office for a second four-year term on May 29, 2003. Vice President - Atiku Abubakar.

The President and deputies of the National Assembly are elected for a term of 4 years. The President is elected for no more than two terms. The candidate must receive at least 1/4 of the vote in elections in at least 2/3 of the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. The Senate (109 members) consists of three senators from each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory. The House of Representatives (360 members) is elected in constituencies with approximately equal population. The Senate and the House of Representatives have their own speaker and his deputy, who are elected by the senators and members of the House from among themselves.

Prominent political leaders in Nigeria:

Nnamdi Azikiwe is the first local governor-general of the independent Federation of Nigeria. (1960-63), first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. (1963-66);

Tafawa Baleva - the first prime minister of independent Nigeria (1960-66);

General Yakubu Gowon - head of the military regime (1966-75), returned and strengthened the federal structure of Nigeria, under his leadership the federal government won the internecine war of 1967-70;

General Murtala R. Mohammed - head of the military regime (1975-76), the most revered statesman in Nigeria. He launched the fight against corruption, carried out an administrative reform, decided to move the capital to the geographical center of the country, developed a schedule for the transfer of power to a civilian government;

General Olusegun Obasanjo - head of the military regime (1976-79), president of the Fourth Republic (1999 - present). During his first tenure in power, he continued the undertakings of M. Mohammed, transferred (for the first time in Africa) power in the country to the legally elected civilian government of Sheh Shagari (1979-83). In 1999 and in 2003 (re) democratically elected to the presidency. He brought the country out of political and economic isolation, ensured economic recovery, gave a social orientation to government policy, provided a legislative basis for the fight against corruption, etc.;

General Sani Abacha - head of the military regime, president (1993-98), introduced a strict police regime, launched repressions, including the physical elimination of opponents, which led to a drop in prestige and the well-known isolation of Nigeria in the international arena, during his reign, Nigeria reached 1- th place in the world in terms of the level of corruption in the state apparatus.

Executive power in the states is given to governors who are elected for a term of 4 years and must receive at least 1/4 of the votes in elections in at least 2/3 of local government areas.

There is a multi-party system. 30 (in 1999 - 3) parties were allowed to participate in the 2003 general elections, however, only the People's Democratic Party, the All Nigerian People's Party, the Union for Democracy, the United People's Party of Nigeria, the National Democratic Party, and the People's Salvation Party are represented in the National Assembly.

Leading business organizations: National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture - NASSIMA, chambers of commerce in all states of Nigeria, bilateral chambers of commerce and industry with leading foreign partners, etc. Among other public organizations, the Nigerian Labor Congress stands out.

The internal policy of the administration is aimed at the democratization of Nigerian society, the fight against corruption, the settlement of ethnic and interfaith differences. At the heart of modern economic and social policy are the tasks to revive the declining economy, raise the standard of living of the population, return Nigerians to productive work and create new employment opportunities, orient the country to benefit from economic globalization, and turn Nigeria into the center of the West African economy.

The foreign policy of the government is focused on strengthening the authority of the country emerging from international isolation after a long stay in power of military regimes. Priority is given to the African direction. Obasanjo is one of the authors of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). The document seeks to encourage African countries towards closer regional and continental integration and, in particular, to make the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) an effective instrument of this process. Nigeria takes an active part in peacekeeping operations in the West African region. As the leader of the ECOWAS peacekeeping contingent, she made a major contribution to the successful completion of the military conflict in Liberia, and is actively engaged in unblocking the crisis in Sierra Leone. The Nigerians support the initiatives of UN Secretary General K. Anna-a to reform this organization and are in favor of giving Africa two seats of permanent members in the renewed Security Council, while applying for one of them.

The armed forces of Nigeria are the largest in Tropical Africa. Their number is 76.5 thousand soldiers and officers (1999), incl. Ground forces 62 thousand, Air Force 9.5 thousand and Navy 5 thousand. The call is carried out on a voluntary basis. Nigeria actively participates in UN peacekeeping operations, incl. forms the basis of the UN military contingent in Liberia (since 1990) and Sierra Leone (1997-2000).

Economy of Nigeria

Nigeria is an agricultural country with a developed oil industry. Despite significant natural and human resources, the lack of political stability, corruption, and an extremely low level of management at the macroeconomic level led to a long period of stagnation of the national economy. The dynamics of the country's economic development during the years of independence was determined by the extensive industrial development of hydrocarbon resources and the decline in agricultural production. Within the framework of the international division of labor, Nigeria has lost its role as a leading supplier of certain types of agricultural raw materials to the world market, while retaining its monocultural nature and raw material orientation. The economy has acquired a sustainable fuel and mineral specialization, becoming one of the world's major net oil exporters.

The symbiosis of the modern and traditional (informal) sectors of the economy, the large scale of the "shadow" business, which controls up to 76% of GDP, complicates reliable statistical analysis and limits the assessment of trends in its development. In 2001, GDP was estimated at the equivalent of $105.9 billion, i.e. OK. $840 per capita. Nigeria is classified as one of the least developed countries in the world. Below the poverty line lives approx. 45% of the population (2000). Nevertheless, the average annual GDP growth rate (average 3% in the 1990s and 3.5% in 2001) somewhat exceeded the population growth rate, and there was a tendency for the country to slowly emerge from the economic stagnation zone. The high level of inflation persisted (14.9% in 2001), preventing stabilization at the macroeconomic level.

In the sectoral structure of the economy, agriculture accounts for 39% of GDP (2000), it employs the vast majority of the economically active population - 70% (1999). For industry, these figures are 33 and 10%, respectively, for the service sector - 28 and 20%.

Agriculture has been in deep decline over the past decades, having lost the ability to adequately provide the country's population with food and other products, as well as to produce marketable products, the export of which would give the country significant foreign exchange earnings. Droughts and crop failures in the 1960s, increased migration from rural to urban areas, as well as the growth of income from the exploitation of oil resources, which made it possible to reorient the tastes of the population towards imported food, led to the stagnation of the industry. The rise of agricultural production is hampered by an inadequate system of land use: there are very few large modern agro-industrial enterprises in the country and the main production is concentrated on small farms while maintaining communal land tenure, which in northern Nigeria is complicated by the presence of feudal remnants. In combination with low soil fertility, low availability of irrigation and fertilizer use, poor marketing practices have also become a brake, leading to the formation of a low level of purchase prices for agricultural products.

Nigerian agriculture produces commercial (export) crops, incl. (thousand tons, 2000) cocoa beans - 225, peanuts - 2783, soybeans - 372 (Nigeria occupies one of the leading places in Africa in their production), as well as oil palm products, cotton, rubber plants, sugar cane. Food crops are also grown for domestic consumption, incl. yams - 25,873, cassava - 32,697, corn - 5476, sorghum - 7520, millet - 5960, rice - 3277, etc.

Among cash crops, only cocoa continues to play a significant role in the country's commodity exports. Nigeria is one of the leading producers of cocoa beans and cocoa products, ranked 4th in the world after Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Indonesia. The stable demand for Nigerian cocoa in the world market is primarily due to its special taste.

The development of agricultural production and exports is among the priorities of the civil government, which is launching a massive campaign to achieve full self-sufficiency in agricultural products and expand the volume of its exports in a wide range, incl. by providing guaranteed purchase prices, lending to producers, improving planting material, improving product storage methods, using chemical fertilizers, etc.

The basis of animal husbandry is (thousand heads, 2000): cattle - 19,830, goats - 24,300 and, to a lesser extent, sheep - 20,500. Most livestock farms with approx. 90% of the livestock population is located in the far north of the country, in the Sudanese belt, in a zone of tall grass savannas, which serves as good pastures and is distinguished by the absence of tsetse flies. The role of pig breeding (4855 thousand heads) and poultry farming (126 million units, 2000) is increasing.

Fishing and seafood production are carried out in the waters of the coastal shelf of the Gulf of Guinea, in Lake Chad, in lagoons, rivers, as well as numerous water streams in the river delta. Niger. The fish catch reaches approx. 250 thousand tons (40% of the country's needs).

The oil industry is the leading branch of the Nigerian economy, producing approx. 20% of GDP, provided by approx. 65% of budget revenues and 95% of foreign exchange earnings from foreign economic operations. In accordance with the OPEC quota, Nigeria produces 2.0-2.1 million barrels. oil per day.

Exploration, development and production of oil both in the continental part of the country and on the coastal shelf are carried out mainly by joint companies formed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NOPC) and foreign oil corporations, among which the leading place is occupied by Royal Dutch Shell (40-50% of production) , as well as Exxon, ENI, Agip, Elf Aquitaine and others. Along with equity participation, financing of the oil industry is also carried out through the sale of NONK's stake in a number of such enterprises, carried out as part of the privatization program, as well as on the basis of production sharing contracts.

The gas industry has the prospect of becoming another source of foreign exchange earnings. While Nigeria is forced to burn up to 75% of the gas associated with oil production, approx. 12% of its amount is pumped back into the oil wells and only approx. 13% is used for industrial and domestic needs.

In 2000, the installed capacity of the Nigerian electricity industry was approx. 5900 MW, 15.9 billion kWh produced, incl. 64% of electricity - at TPPs and 36% - at HPPs. The power industry of the country is characterized by failures in the supply of electricity to consumers, incl. its occasional shutdowns. On a small scale (19 million kWh, 2000), Nigeria exports electricity to neighboring countries.

The capacities of the coal industry allow to extract approx. 150 thousand tons of coal. Other branches of the mining industry are also developed. Iron ore, tin concentrate, bauxite, columbite, copper and gold are produced. Among non-metallic minerals, bentonite, gypsum, magnesite, phosphates, talc, barite are being developed. Precious and semi-precious stones are mined in small volumes: sapphires, topazes and aquamarines.

The manufacturing industry is based on the principle of import substitution and is mainly limited to the production of consumer goods. Taking into account the high import component in raw materials and semi-finished products (about 60%), in the last two decades, the capacities of manufacturing enterprises have been used by 25-30%. These include car assembly, metallurgy, certain types of textile industry, the production of sugar, paper, plastics, etc.

The main mode of transport is automobile, providing 95% of cargo and passenger transportation. In 2001, the Nigerian highway network reached 193.2 thousand km, incl. 59.9 thousand are paved roads, of which 1,194 km are expressways and 133.3 thousand km are dirt roads.

The total length of railways is 3557 km (2001). Of these, 3505 km are narrow-gauge railways (track width - 1067 mm) and only 52 km have a standard (1435 mm) gauge. Two main railway lines stretched from south to north: Western, connecting Lagos with Nguru, and Eastern - Port Harcourt with Maiduguri. The first highway has a branch connecting Zaria with Kano. In addition, in the center of the country, the highways are interconnected by a section of the track.

Nigeria has developed port systems, incl. the Delta port complex, including Warri, Coco and Sapele, Tin-Ken and Apapa ports in Lagos, as well as ports in Port Harcourt, Calabar, Onna. There are oil export ports in Bonny and Burutu. In 2002, the country's merchant fleet had St. 43 vessels with a displacement of 1000 tons and above, incl. 6 foreign vessels flying the Nigerian flag as a "convenience". The fleet consists of 29 oil tankers, one specialized and four chemical tankers, 7 bulk carriers, one bulk carrier and a container ship. The length of river routes within the framework of inland water transport is 8575 km.

Pipeline transport is represented by oil pipelines with a length of 2042 km, oil product pipelines - 3000 km and gas pipelines - 500 km.

The country has five international airports: in Lagos (named after Murtala Muhammad), Abuja, Port Har Court, Kano and Calabar. In addition, the country has up to 14 airports for local transportation. There are several civil airlines operating in the country.

There are 83 medium-wave, 36 ultra-short-wave and 11 short-wave radio stations (2001), 3 television stations, incl. 2 stations and 15 repeaters under state control (2002), 23.5 million radios and 6.9 million televisions are in use (1997), there are 500 thousand telephone lines (2000), 200 thousand cellular subscribers (2001), 11 ISPs and 100,000 Internet users (2000).

There are more than 90 commercial, trade and industrial banks in Nigeria. In addition to them, there are numerous financial institutions. At the head of the banking system is the Central Bank of Nigeria, which is responsible for developing monetary policy and overseeing the banking system.

Public debt of Nigeria, according to the estimate at the beginning. 2003, amounted to 5.3 trillion naira (approx. 42.2 billion US dollars), incl. domestic debt - 1.6 trillion (12.7 billion) and external - 3.7 trillion naira (29.5 billion US dollars). The civilian government advocates foreign debt relief from the world's poorest countries, including Nigeria.

Nigerians assign one of the important places in the foreign economic sphere to the diversification of trade relations and the search for new partners, as well as foreign investors.

Science and culture of Nigeria

Nigerian Academy of Sciences established 1977 - c. 100 full members. Scientific research is coordinated by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Along with special scientific centers (such as the Institute of Tropical Agriculture), there are research centers at universities, as well as at ministries and departments of the country.

Since 1982, the Nigerian education system has been built according to the 6-3-3-4 formula. From the age of 6, children receive primary (compulsory since 1992) for six years, then three years of secondary and three years of higher secondary education. Along with higher secondary schools, there are 56 teachers' colleges and 26 polytechnics. The four-year higher school is represented by 33 universities. The task of the complete eradication of illiteracy has been set. Education is mainly funded by the state.

Nigeria is a country of ancient culture: the terracotta sculpture of the “Nok culture”, the bronze of Benin and Ife, as well as other cultural monuments, widely represented in the rich exposition museums of Lagos, Ife, Kano and other cities of the country, are widely known.

Nigeria is one of the literary centers of the African continent. Along with the traditions of oral folk art, English-language literature developed. Nigeria is the birthplace of Nobel Prize in Literature (1986) playwright and poet Wole Shoyinka. The names of such Nigerian writers as Chinua Achebe, Ciprian Ekvensi, Christopher Okigbo, Ken Saro-Wiwa and others are world famous.