An NEE: Nigeria » Nigeria: Location and Context

Nigeria: an NEE case study

Your exam asks for a case study of one LIC or NEE. This course uses Nigeria, which is an NEE. This lesson covers where it is, why it is important and the wider context it sits in. Later lessons cover its industry, trade and quality of life.

Key terms:

• ECOWAS: the Economic Community of West African States, a group of West African countries that work together on trade and security.
• OPEC: the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a group of oil-producing countries.
• Ethnic group: a group of people who share a language, culture and history.
• Democracy: a system of government where people choose their leaders in elections.
• Corruption: when people in power use their position to get money or advantages illegally.

Location

Nigeria is in West Africa. It sits just north of the equator, on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. It shares borders with four countries:

• Benin to the west
• Niger to the north
• Chad to the north east
• Cameroon to the east

Two big rivers, the Niger and the Benue, meet in the middle of the country and flow south to the coast. The capital is Abuja, in the centre of the country. The largest city is Lagos, on the coast in the south west. Abuja became the capital in 1991, so that the government would be in a more central place.

Importance in Africa

Nigeria is important in Africa (regional importance) for several reasons.

Importance in the world

Nigeria matters globally too (global importance).

• Oil: it has been a member of OPEC since 1971. Oil sold abroad is the country's biggest source of money from other countries.
• Population: it is one of the most populated countries in the world, so it is a large market and a source of workers.
• Politics: it is a member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth, so it has a voice in world decisions.
• Migration: many Nigerians live abroad, including in the UK and USA, and send money home.

Political context

Nigeria was a British colony. It became independent on 1 October 1960. The borders drawn by the British put many different peoples into one country, which has caused tension ever since.

• Government: Nigeria is divided into 36 states plus the capital territory, Abuja.
• Military rule: the army ran the country for many years after independence. Nigeria has been a democracy since 1999.
• Corruption: some oil money has been lost to corruption, so less reaches schools, hospitals and roads.
• Conflict: in the north east, the group Boko Haram has carried out attacks since about 2009. Many people have been forced from their homes.

Social and cultural context

Nigeria is home to more than 250 ethnic groups. The three largest are:

• Hausa-Fulani in the north
• Yoruba in the south west
• Igbo in the south east

Over 500 languages are spoken. English is the official language, so people from different groups can talk to each other. Most people in the north are Muslim and most in the south are Christian. Religion and ethnic identity can unite people, but they can also lead to disagreements over land, jobs and power.

Nigeria is a young country. Many people are under 30, and many live in cities such as Lagos, while others live in villages and farm. Music, dance, food and festivals are an important part of life.

Environmental context

Nigeria's environment changes from south to north.

There are also environmental pressures:

• Desertification in the north is making farming harder.
• Oil spills in the Niger Delta have polluted water and farmland.
• Deforestation in the south has cleared trees for farmland and wood.
• Flooding often hits towns near the Niger and Benue rivers in the wet season.

Exam-style question

Using a case study of an NEE you have studied, explain the importance of the country regionally and globally. [4 marks]