_#_Disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in Lake
Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is
completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and
Nigeria; Nigerian proposals to reopen maritime boundary negotiations and
redemarcate the entire land boundary have been rejected by Cameroon
_#_Climate: varies--equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in
north
_#_Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus;
mountains in southeast, plains in north
_#_Natural resources: crude oil, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal,
limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas
_#_Land use: arable land 31%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures
23%; forest and woodland 15%; other 28%; includes irrigated NEGL%
_#_Environment: recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal
agricultural activities; desertification; soil degradation, rapid
deforestation
_*_People
_#_Population: 122,470,574 (July 1991), growth rate 3.0% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 118 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 50 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun--Nigerian(s); adjective--Nigerian
_#_Ethnic divisions: more than 250 tribal groups; Hausa and Fulani
of the north, Yoruba of the southwest, and Ibos of the southeast make
up 65% of the population; about 27,000 non-Africans
_#_Religion: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
_#_Language: English (official); Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani, and
several other languages also widely used
_#_Literacy: 51% (male 62%, female 40%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1990 est.)
_#_Labor force: 42,844,000; agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and
services 19%, government 15%; 49% of population of working age (1985)
_#_Organized labor: 3,520,000 wage earners belong to 42 recognized
trade unions, which come under a single national labor federation--the
Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC)
_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Federal Republic of Nigeria
_#_Type: military government since 31 December 1983
_#_Capital: Lagos; note--some government departments have relocated
to the designated new capital in Abuja
_#_Administrative divisions: 21 states and 1 territory*;
Abuja Capital Territory*, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bendel, Benue,
Borno, Cross River, Gongola, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos,
Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto
_#_Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)
_#_Constitution: 1 October 1979, amended 9 February 1984, revised 1989
_#_Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic, and tribal law
_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
_#_Executive branch: president of the Armed Forces Ruling Council,
Armed Forces Ruling Council, National Council of State, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)
_#_Legislative branch: National Assembly was dissolved after the
military coup of 31 December 1983
_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeal
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government--President and Commander in
Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Ibrahim BABANGIDA (since 27 August 1985)
_#_Political parties and leaders: two political parties established by
the government in 1989--Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National
Republican Convention (NRC)
_#_Suffrage: universal at age 21
_#_Elections:
President--scheduled for 1 October 1992;