Chapter 77
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
Economy -------
Economic overview: Niger is one of the world's poorest countries, with recent GDP growth barely matching the rapid growth of population. The economy is centered on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Uranium revenues dropped by almost 50% between 1983 and 1990 with the end of the uranium boom. Terms of trade with Nigeria, Niger's largest regional trade partner, have improved dramatically since the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994; this devaluation boosted exports of livestock, peas, onions, and the products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid for operating expenses and public investment and is strongly induced to adhere to structural adjustment programs designed by the IMF and the World Bank.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6.7% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $600 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 38.5% industry: 17.9% services: 43.6% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35.6% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 2.5 million wage earners (1982) by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $188 million expenditures: $400 million, including capital expenditures of $125 million (1993 est.)
Industries: cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium mining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 60,000 kW production: 200 million kWh consumption per capita: 42 kWh (1992)
Agriculture: cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $232 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: uranium ore 67%, livestock products 20%, cowpeas, onions partners: France 77%, Nigeria 8%, Cote d'Ivoire, Italy
Imports: $234 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: consumer goods, primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals partners: France 23%, Cote d'Ivoire, Germany, Italy, Japan
External debt: $1.41 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 11,258 km paved: 3,265 km unpaved: 7,993 km (1990 est.)
Waterways: Niger river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March
Ports: none
Airports: total: 23 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 14,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: small system of wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 500,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 18
Televisions: 38,000 (1992 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,920,244 males fit for military service: 1,035,218 males reach military age (18) annually: 92,132 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $32 million, 1.3% of GDP (FY92/93)
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@Nigeria -------
Map ---
Location: 10 00 N, 8 00 E -- Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Flag ----
Description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
Geography ---------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 923,770 sq km land area: 910,770 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,047 km border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 30 nm
International disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Cameroon over land and maritime boundaries in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred to the ICJ
Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources: petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 31% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 23% forest and woodland: 15% other: 28%
Irrigated land: 8,650 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: soil degradation; rapid deforestation; desertification; recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities natural hazards: periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
People ------
Population: 103,912,489 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 23,455,266; female 23,245,099) 15-64 years: 52% (male 27,645,106; female 26,553,135) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,522,862; female 1,491,021) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.05% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 42.89 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 12.71 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 72.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.34 years male: 53.06 years female: 55.65 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic divisions: non-Africans 27,000 north: Hausa and Fulani note: Hausa and Fulani, Yoruba, and Ibos together make up 65% of population southwest: Yoruba southeast: Ibos
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 57.1% male: 67.3% female: 47.3%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria
Data code: NI
Type of government: military government; Nigeria has been ruled by one military regime after another since 31 December 1983; on 1 October 1995, the present military government announced it will turn power over to democratically elected civilian authorities in October 1998
Capital: Abuja note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in Abuja
Administrative divisions: 30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe; note - some new administrative units may have been created
Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Constitution: 1979 constitution still in force; plan for 1989 constitution to take effect in 1993 was not implemented
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces and Defense Minister Gen. Sani ABACHA (since 17 November 1993); Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council Oladipo DIYA (since 17 November 1993) cabinet: Federal Executive Council
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly Senate: suspended after military takeover of 17 November 1993 House of Representatives: suspended after military takeover of 17 November 1993
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Armed Forces Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee
Political parties and leaders: note: political party system suspended after the military takeover of 17 November 1993; the military regime has made successive promises to allow political parties to register at various times in 1996
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C (suspended), CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Zubair Mahmud KAZAURE chancery: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400 consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Walter C. CARRINGTON embassy: 2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos telephone: [234] (1) 261-0097 FAX: [234] (1) 261-0257
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
Economy -------
Economic overview: The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management. Nigeria's unpopular military rulers failed to make significant progress in diversifying the economy away from overdependence on the capital intensive oil sector which provides almost all foreign exchange earnings and about 80% of budgetary revenues. Regime officials also appear divided on how to redress fundamental economic imbalances that result in troublesome inflation, the steady depreciation of the naira, and the discouragement of investors. The government's domestic and international arrears continue to limit economic growth and prevent an agreement with the IMF and bilateral creditors on debt relief. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $135.9 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.6% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,300 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 22% services: 40% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 57% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 42.844 million by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 15%
Unemployment rate: 28% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.7 billion expenditures: $6.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (1994 est.)
Industries: crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 4,570,000 kW production: 11.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 109 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, rubber, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; fishing and forest resources extensively exploited
Illicit drugs: passenger and cargo air hub for West Africa; facilitates movement of heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America; increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America intended for West European, East Asian, and North American markets
Exports: $9.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: oil 98%, cocoa, rubber partners: US 52%, EC 34%
Imports: $7.5 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, food and animals partners: EC 50%, US 13%, Japan 7%
External debt: $32.5 billion (1993)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo
Exchange rates: naira (N) per US$1 - 21.886 (January 1996), 21.895 (1995), 21.996 (1994), 22.065 (1993), 17.298 (1992), 9.909 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: total: 3,557 km (1995) narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 112,140 km paved: 31,500 km unpaved: 80,640 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 8,575 km consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks
Pipelines: crude oil 2,042 km; petroleum products 3,000 km; natural gas 500 km
Ports: Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri
Merchant marine: total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 387,552 GRT/636,578 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 16, chemical tanker 3, oil tanker 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 66 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 6 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 10 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 with paved runways under 914 m: 18 with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 492,204 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in progress domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and 20 domestic satellite earth stations carry intercity traffic international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 1 coaxial submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 35, FM 17, shortwave 0
Radios: 20 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 28
Televisions: 3.8 million (1992 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 23,739,192 males fit for military service: 13,587,780 males reach military age (18) annually: 1,065,410 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $172 million, about 1% of GDP (1992)
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@Niue ----
(free association with New Zealand)
Map ---
Location: 19 02 S, 169 52 W -- Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Flag ----
Description: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
Geography ---------
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total area: 260 sq km land area: 260 sq km comparative area: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use: arable land: 61% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 19% other: 12%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: traditional methods of burning brush and trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil supplies which are not naturally very abundant natural hazards: typhoons international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Geographic note: one of world's largest coral islands
People ------
Population: 2,174 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -0.62% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean
Ethnic divisions: Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)
Religions: Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church) 75% - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society, Morman 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages: Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue
Data code: NE
Type of government: self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs
Capital: Alofi
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: 19 October 1974 (became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand on 19 October 1974)
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)
Constitution: 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the UK since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch; the queen and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Warren SEARELL (since NA August 1993) head of government: Premier Frank Fakaotimanava LUI (acting premier since NA December 1992, premier since 12 March 1993) was reelected by the Legislative Assembly; election last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999) cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly: elections last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (20 total, 6 elected) NPP 9, independents 11
Judicial branch: Appeal Court of New Zealand; High Court
Political parties and leaders: Niue Peoples Party (NPP), Young VIVIAN
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Flag: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
Economy -------
Economic overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the shortfall made up by grants from New Zealand - the grants are used to pay wages to public employees. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.4 million (1993 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $1,200 (1993 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1992)
Labor force: 1,000 (1981 est.) by occupation: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $5.5 million expenditures: $6.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985 est.)
Industries: tourism, handicrafts, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 1,500 kW production: 2.7 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,490 kWh (1992)
Agriculture: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Exports: $117,500 (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts partners: NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Imports: $4.1 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs partners: NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 229 km unpaved: 229 km
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 276 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1987 est.)
Radios: 1,000
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 312 (1991 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Police Force
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand