Nigeria

=//NIGERIA//= //Laura Frankenfield//



Nigeria is in Western Africa and borders the Gulf of Guinea between Benin and Cameroon. It is a little more that twice the size of California. It is Africa's most populous country and has around 250 ethnic groups. The country is composed of 18% Igbo people. It has a lot of natural resources including, natural gas, petroleum, lead and zinc. Nigeria is highly dependent on their natural oil, which is 95% of their trade capital. Recently they have been trying to not be so dependent on this one natural resource. Nigeria's people are often at high risk for disease's spread through contaminated waters such as hepatitis, as well as high risk for malaria and yellow fever. Until about 1960, Nigeria was being controlled by several different nations, especially the United Kingdom, which they got independence from in 1960 but did not have an effective constitution until May of 1999. Igboland covers most of Southeast Nigeria, and this is where the Igbo people mostly live.There are around 5 million Igbo people. During British colonialism the Igbo people inherited Christian ways and received education.
 * What is it?**


 * Why does Nigeria fall apart?**

**<-- Igbo People**

In the 1830's, civil wars begin in the south. Later Britain starts to establish authority near Lagos. They later hold the "Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria" in which the British govern through local leaders in Nigeria. Under the League of Nations mandate, in 1922, the German colony Kamerun is added on to Nigeria. In 1960, a constitution is finally drawn up for Nigeria and they develop a coalition government with Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa leading the nation. Only two years later, controversy begins throughout the nation over regional and ethnic tensions and Balewa is killed. A new leader is appointed, only to be killed later that year. The next year, three eastern states pull out from Nigeria secede, creating the Republic of Biafra, which causes civil war.

**Abubakar Tafawa Balewa**


 * websites:**


 * CIA Factbook**
 * Nigeria History**
 * Nigeria Time Line**


 * pictures:**

Map of Nigeria Igbo People Abubakar Balewa