Nigeria and the future
Nigeria attained independence from Britain in 1960. ... Nigeria is composed of about 250 ethnic groups, with diverse languages and religious faiths. ... Regional, ethnic, and religious differences have contributed to great instability, and Nigeria’s development will depend on the evolution of a political formula that takes into account the country’s diverse characteristics. Nigeria’s economy is highly dependent on the oil sector, which accounts for about 50 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and accounts for 95 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. With its large reserve of human and natural resources, Nigeria has the potential to build a highly prosperous economy, to reduce poverty significantly, and to provide the health, education, and infrastructure services its population needs. Despite the country’s relative oil wealth, poverty is widespread and Nigeria’s basic social indicators place it among the 20 poorest countries in the world.