AP News, April 20th, 2007
A look at Nigeria, which holds presidential elections Saturday:
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GEOGRAPHY: Twice the size of California, with an area of nearly 360,000 square miles. It is set on the Gulf of Guinea on the West African coast and borders Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin. Terrain ranges from coastal swamps and tropical forests to grasslands and semi-deserts.
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PEOPLE: Population 140 million, the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. Of more than 250 ethnic groups, about 40 percent are Christian, 50 percent Muslim and the rest adherents of indigenous beliefs. Twelve northern states practice Islamic law.
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LANGUAGE: English is the official language; more than 200 African languages and dialects are widely spoken. The main three language groups are Yoruba, Hausa and Ibo.
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ECONOMY: Africa's largest oil exporter, with the petroleum industry providing 95 percent of government revenues. The majority of Nigerians are poor. The banking, telecommunications and aviation industry are growing, but corruption and decayed infrastructure discourage foreign investment and the agricultural sector is now below subsistence level.
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THE ELECTION: About 61 million registered voters will choose among 25 candidates, including the current vice president, a former military ruler and the brother of a top '70s era political leader. If no clear winner emerges, a runoff will be held within a month. The current president, Olusegun Obasanjo, is barred constitutionally from seeking a third term. The vote would mark the first transfer of power between civilian governments in Nigeria's history.
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HISTORY: Gained independence from Britain in 1960. In 1967, the oil-rich eastern region tried to gain independence in a 30-month civil war that left more than 1 million dead. Peace and an oil boom in the 1970s brought in billions of dollars, but corruption undermined prosperity. After decades of coups and military rule, Obasanjo won democratic elections in 1999.
