Republican of Nigerian unionist

The capital:             Abuja

The inhabitants enumerated:             129,934,911 breath of air (estimate of July 2002)

The language:           The English (the official language)

The sweat:             [haawsaa] - my beans, [ywrwbaa], ['iyjbw]

The climate:             The uniformity

Regime of the governing:             The republican

The economy                        

- the currency:             [naayraa]

- [aalmwaaryd]:             Blistered, natural gas, crude, charcoal, tin, limestone

History

Various, sometimes highly developed states existed in Nigeria long before the arrival of British and Portuguese slavers in the 15th and 16th centuries. Increasing British influence during the 19th century led to the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1900. These were united as the colony of Nigeria in 1914. Independence as a member of the Commonwealth came in 1960. The Eastern Region seceded as the Republic of Biafra for the duration of the civil war (1967-70). 

Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999 and a peaceful transition to civilian government completed. The new president faces the daunting task of rebuilding a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, the OBASANJO administration must defuse longstanding ethnic and religious tensions, if it is to build a sound foundation for economic growth and political stability.