Nigeria

== Politics ==
{{main|Politics of Nigeria|Political parties in Nigeria}}

=== Government ===
[[File:Coat of arms of Nigeria.svg|thumb|[[Coat of arms of Nigeria]] in current use]]
Nigeria is a [[federal republic]] modelled after the [[United States]],<ref>Charles Mwalimu. ''The Nigerian Legal System: Public Law''. Peter Lang. 2005. [https://books.google.com/books?id=QWrGlYsCwPIC&pg=PA6 p. 6].</ref> with 36 states and capital Abuja as an independent unit. The executive power is exercised by the [[President of Nigeria|President]]. The president is both [[head of state]] and [[Head of government|head of the federal government]]; the president is [[Direct election|elected by popular vote]] to a maximum of two four-year terms.<ref name="factbook3">{{cite web|title=Nigeria|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/|work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=14 February 2022|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] (United States)}}</ref> [[State governors in nigeria|State governors]], like the president, are elected for four years and may serve a maximum of two terms. The president's power is checked by a [[Senate of Nigeria|Senate]] and a [[House of Representatives (Nigeria)|House of Representatives]], which are combined in a [[Bicameralism|bicameral body]] called the [[National Assembly (Nigeria)|National Assembly]]. The Senate is a 109-seat body with three members from each state and one from the capital region of Abuja; members are elected by popular vote to four-year terms. The House contains 360 seats, with the number of seats per state determined by population.<ref name="factbook3" />

The Nigerian president is elected in a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive a relative majority of the votes and more than 25% of the votes in at least 24 of the 36 states.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-04 |title=Patrick Obahiagbon: Labour Party won't get 25% of votes in 24 states |url=https://www.thecable.ng/patrick-obahiagbon-labour-party-wont-get-25-of-votes-in-24-states |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=TheCable |language=en-US}}</ref> If no candidate reaches this hurdle, a second round of voting takes place between the leading candidate and the next candidate who received the majority of votes in the highest number of states. By convention, presidential candidates take a running mate (candidate for the vice-presidency) who is both ethnically and religiously the opposite of themselves. There is no law prescribing this, yet all presidential candidates since the existence of the Fourth Republic until 2023 adhered to this rule.

However, this principle of religious and ethnic diversity in leadership was ignored in the 2023 General Elections, where the candidate for the [[All Progressives Congress]], [[Bola Tinubu|Bola Ahmed Tinubu]], a Muslim, selected another Muslim, [[Kashim Shettima|Senator Kashim Shettima]], as running mate.

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Subdivisions of Nigeria}}
[[File:Political map of Nigeria.svg|thumb|alt=|Map of Nigeria with administrative divisions|upright=1.4]]Nigeria is divided into [[States of Nigeria|thirty-six states]] and one [[Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria|Federal Capital Territory]], which are further sub-divided into 774 [[Local government areas of Nigeria|local government areas]]. In some contexts, the states are aggregated into [[Geopolitical zones of Nigeria|six geopolitical zones]]: [[North West (Nigeria)|North West]], [[North East (Nigeria)|North East]], [[North Central, Nigeria|North Central]], [[South West (Nigeria)|South West]], [[South East (Nigeria)|South East]], and [[South South]].<ref>{{cite web |date=4 November 2012 |title=Constitution amendment: What the people want |url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/constitution-amendment-what-the-people-want/ |access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=6 December 2012 |title=Constitutional review: Nigeria needs broader representation |url=http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106778:constitutional-review-nigeria-needs-broader-representation-&catid=203:youth-speak&Itemid=730 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511123924/http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106778%3Aconstitutional-review-nigeria-needs-broader-representation-&catid=203%3Ayouth-speak&Itemid=730 |archive-date=11 May 2013 |access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref>

Nigeria has five cities with a population of over a million (from largest to smallest): [[Lagos]], [[Kano (city)|Kano]], [[Ibadan]], [[Benin City]] and [[Port Harcourt]]. Lagos is the [[List of most populous cities in Africa|largest city in Africa]], with a population of over [[List of metropolitan areas by population|12 million]] in its [[urban area]].<ref name="felix2">{{cite news |last=Onuah |first=Felix |date=29 December 2006 |title=Nigeria gives census result, avoids risky details |agency=Reuters |url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L29819278.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=23 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126015018/http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L29819278.htm |archive-date=26 January 2009}}</ref>

The south of the country in particular is characterised by very strong urbanisation and a relatively large number of cities. According to an estimate from 2015,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nigeria: States & Agglomerations - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/cities/agglos/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=citypopulation.de}}</ref> there are 20 cities in Nigeria with more than 500,000 inhabitants, including ten cities with a population of one million.

=== Law ===
{{Main|Law of Nigeria}}
The [[Constitution of Nigeria]] is the supreme law of the country. There are four distinct legal systems in Nigeria, which include [[English law]], [[common law]], [[customary law]], and  [[Sharia|Sharia law]]:
* English law in Nigeria consists of the collection of British laws from colonial times.
* Common law is the collection of authoritative judicial decisions in the field of civil law (so-called precedents) that have been handed down in the country concerned - in this case Nigeria. (This system is mainly found in Anglo-Saxon countries; in continental Europe, on the other hand, codified and, as far as possible, abstracted civil law predominates, as in the [[Napoleonic Code]] in France).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Siliquini-Cinelli|first1=Luca|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l9ifDgAAQBAJ&q=English+law+in+Nigeria+is+derived+from+the+colonial+Nigeria%2C+while+common+law+is+a+development+from+its+post+colonial+independence.&pg=PA173|title=The Constitutional Dimension of Contract Law: A Comparative Perspective|last2=Hutchison|first2=Andrew|date=2017-04-06|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-319-49843-0}}</ref>
* Customary law is derived from indigenous traditional norms and practices, including the dispute resolution meetings of pre-colonial Yoruba land secret societies and the [[Egbo|Èkpè]] and Okónkò of [[Igboland]] and [[Ibibio people|Ibibioland]].<ref>{{cite web |last=ProjectSolutionz |date=2021-06-22 |title=Law and the political structure in Nigeria |url=https://projectsolutionz.com.ng/law-and-the-political-structure-in-nigeria/ |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=ProjectSolutionz |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Sharia law ''(also known as Islamic Law)'' used to be used only in [[Northern Nigeria]], where [[Islam]] is the predominant [[religion]]. It is also being used in [[Lagos State]], Oyo State, Kwara State, Ogun State, and Osun State by Muslims. Muslim penal codes are not the same in every state and they differentiate in punishment and offences according to religious affiliation (for example, alcohol consumption and distribution).

The country has a [[judicial branch]], the highest court of which is the [[Supreme Court of Nigeria]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nigeria/ |title=Africa :: Nigeria |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] (United States) |work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=12 September 2022 }}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{main|Foreign relations of Nigeria}}
[[File:MinForeignAffairs.jpg|alt=|thumb|The Ministry of [[Foreign Affairs]], [[Abuja]]]]
Upon gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria made African unity the centrepiece of its foreign policy.<ref>Young, Andrew (20 July 2006) [http://allafrica.com/stories/200607200078.html "Collins Edomaruse, how Obasanjo cut UK, US to size"], ''This Day'' (Nigeria).</ref> One exception to the African focus was Nigeria's close relationship developed with Israel throughout the 1960s. Israel sponsored and oversaw the construction of Nigeria's parliament buildings.<ref>Burkett, Elinor (2009) ''Golda'', HarperCollins, {{ISBN|0-06-187395-0}}, p. 202.</ref>

Nigeria's foreign policy was put to the test in the 1970s after the country emerged united from its civil war. It supported movements against white minority governments in [[Southern Africa]]. Nigeria backed the [[African National Congress]] by taking a committed tough line about the South African government. Nigeria was a founding member of the [[Organisation of African Unity|Organisation for African Unity]] (now the [[African Union]]) and has tremendous influence in West Africa and Africa on the whole. Nigeria founded regional cooperative efforts in West Africa, functioning as the standard-bearer for the [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS) and [[ECOMOG]] (especially during the Liberia and Sierra Leone civil wars).

With this Africa-centred stance, Nigeria readily [[Congo Crisis|sent troops to the Congo]] at the behest of the United Nations shortly after independence (and has maintained membership since that time). Nigeria also supported several Pan-African and pro-self government causes in the 1970s, including garnering support for [[Angola]]'s [[Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola|MPLA]], [[SWAPO]] in Namibia, and aiding opposition to the minority governments of [[Mozambican War of Independence|Portuguese Mozambique]], and [[Rhodesian Bush War|Rhodesia]]. Nigeria retains membership in the [[Non-Aligned Movement]]. In late November 2006, it organized an Africa-South America Summit in [[Abuja]] to promote what some attendees termed "South-South" linkages on a variety of fronts.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 November 2006 |title=ASAS – Africa-South America Summit |url=http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/Past/2006/November/SummitASA/summit.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518172006/http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/Past/2006/November/SummitASA/summit.htm |archive-date=18 May 2011 |access-date=29 May 2011 |publisher=[[African Union]]}}</ref> Nigeria is also a member of the [[International Criminal Court]] and the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. It was temporarily expelled from the latter in 1995 when ruled by the [[Sani Abacha|Abacha regime]].

Nigeria has remained a key player in the [[Petroleum industry|international oil industry]] since the 1970s and maintains membership in [[OPEC]], which it joined in July 1971. Its [[Petroleum industry in Nigeria|status as a major petroleum producer]] figures prominently in its sometimes volatile international relations with [[Developed country|developed countries]], notably the United States, and with developing countries.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Timothy, Shaw |year=1984 |title=The State of Nigeria: Oil Prices Power Bases and Foreign Policy |journal=Canadian Journal of African Studies |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=393–405 |doi=10.2307/484337 |jstor=484337}}</ref>

Since 2000, [[China–Nigeria relations|Chinese–Nigerian trade relations]] have risen exponentially. There has been an increase in total trade of over 10.3 billion dollars between the two nations from 2000 to 2016.<ref>LeVan, Carl; Ukata, Patrick (2018). ''The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics''. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p.&nbsp;751. {{ISBN|978-0-19-880430-7}}.</ref> However, the structure of the Chinese–Nigerian trade relationship has become a major political issue for the Nigerian state. Chinese exports account for around 80 per cent of total bilateral trade volumes.<ref>LeVan, Carl; Ukata, Patrick (2018). ''The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics''. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p.&nbsp;756. {{ISBN|978-0-19-880430-7}}.</ref> This has resulted in a serious [[Balance of trade|trade imbalance]], with Nigeria importing ten times more than it exports to China.<ref>LeVan, Carl; Ukata, Patrick (2018). ''The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics''. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p.&nbsp;754. {{ISBN|978-0-19-880430-7}}.</ref> Subsequently, Nigeria's economy is becoming over-reliant on cheap imports to sustain itself, resulting in a clear decline in Nigerian industry under such arrangements.<ref>LeVan, Carl; Ukata, Patrick (2018). ''The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics''. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p.&nbsp;754–755. {{ISBN|978-0-19-880430-7}}.</ref>

Continuing its Africa-centred foreign policy, Nigeria introduced the idea of a [[Currency union|single currency]] for West Africa known as the [[Eco (currency)|Eco]] under the presumption that it would be led by the [[Nigerian naira|naira]]. But on 21 December 2019, [[List of heads of state of Ivory Coast|Ivorian President]] [[Alassane Ouattara]], [[Emmanuel Macron]], and multiple other [[Economic Community of West African States|UEMOA]] states announced that they would merely rename the [[CFA franc]] instead of replacing the currency as originally intended. As of 2020, the Eco currency has been delayed to 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Elliot |date=2020-09-29 |title=West Africa's new currency could now be delayed by five years |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/29/west-africas-new-currency-could-now-be-delayed-by-five-years.html |access-date=2020-11-17 |publisher=CNBC}}</ref>

=== Military ===
{{main|Nigerian Armed Forces}}
[[File:ZSU-23-4_Shilka_01.jpg|thumb|[[Nigerian Army]] self-propelled anti-aircraft gun]]
The [[Nigerian Armed Forces]] are the [[Military|combined military forces]] of Nigeria. It consists of three uniformed service branches: the [[Nigerian Army]], [[Nigerian Navy]], and [[Nigerian Air Force]]. The [[President of Nigeria]] functions as the [[commander-in-chief]] of the armed forces, exercising his [[Constitution of Nigeria|constitutional authority]] through the Ministry of Defence, which is responsible for the management of the military and its personnel. The operational head of the AFN is the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Nigeria)|Chief of the Defence Staff]], who is subordinate to the [[Defence Minister of Nigeria|Nigerian Defence Minister]]. With a force of more than 223,000 active personnel, the Nigerian military is one of the largest uniformed combat services in Africa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Armed forces personnel, total – Data |url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.TOTL.P1 |access-date=24 January 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Nigerian Air Force Mil Mi-24V Iwelumo-1.jpg|thumb|[[Nigerian Air Force]] attack helicopter]]

Nigeria has 143,000 troops in the armed forces (army 100,000, navy 25,000, air force 18,000) and another 80,000 personnel for "gendarmerie & paramilitary" in 2020, according to the [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]].<ref name=":8">{{cite book |last=The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) |title=The Military Balance 2022 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2022 |isbn=9781032279008 |location=London}}</ref> Nigeria spent just under 0.4 per cent of its economic output, or US$1.6 billion, on its armed forces in 2017.<ref>3_Data for all countries from 1988 to 2017 as a share of GDP.pdf (sipri.org)</ref><ref>1_Data for all countries from 1988 to 2017 in constant (2016) USD.pdf (sipri.org)</ref> For 2022, US$2.26 billion has been budgeted for the Nigerian armed forces, which is just over a third of [[Belgium]]'s [[defence budget]] (US$5.99 billion).<ref name=":8" />

=== Regional conflicts ===
{{main|Herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria|Religious violence in Nigeria|Nigerian bandit conflict}}
[[File:BokoHaram deaths by state.jpg|thumb|Attacks by Boko Haram, 2011 to October 2022. Each figure represents 1,000 deaths.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Nigeria Security Tracker |url=https://www.cfr.org/nigeria/nigeria-security-tracker/p29483 |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=Council on Foreign Relations}}</ref>]]
[[Boko Haram]] and the [[Nigerian bandit conflict|bandit conflict]] have been responsible for numerous serious attacks with thousands of casualties since mid-2010. Since then, according to the Council on Foreign Relations' Nigeria Security Tracker, over 41,600 lives have been lost to this conflict (as of October 2022).<ref name=":5" /> The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR counts about 1.8 million internally displaced persons and about 200,000 Nigerian refugees in neighbouring countries.

The Boko Haram-affected states agreed in February 2015 to establish an 8,700-strong Multinational Joint Task Force to jointly fight Boko Haram. By October 2015, Boko Haram had been driven out of all the cities it controlled and almost all the counties in northeastern Nigeria. In 2016, Boko Haram split and in 2022, 40,000 fighters surrendered.<ref>{{cite web |author=Agency Report |date=2022-03-24 |title=Over 40,000 terrorists surrender to troops – DHQ |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/519364-over-40000-terrorists-surrender-to-troops-dhq.html |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=Premium Times Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref> The splinter group [[Islamic State – West Africa Province|ISWAP]] (Islamic State in West Africa) remains active.

The fight against Boko Haram, other sectarians and criminals has been accompanied by increasing police attacks. The [[Council on Foreign Relations]]' Nigeria Security Tracker counted 1,086 deaths from Boko Haram attacks and 290 deaths from police violence in the first 12 months of its establishment in May 2011. In the 12 months after October 2021, 2,193 people died from police violence and 498 from Boko Haram and ISWAP,<ref name=":5" /> according to the NST. The Nigerian police are notorious for [[Vigilantism|vigilante justice]].<ref name=":5" />

The Niger Delta saw intense [[2016 Niger Delta conflict|attacks on oil infrastructure in 2016]] by militant groups such as the ''Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta'' (MEND), the ''Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force'' (NDPVF), the ''Ijaw National Congress'' (INC) and the ''Pan Niger Delta Forum'' (PANDEF). In response, the new Buhari government pursued a dual strategy of repression and negotiation.

In late 2016, the Nigerian federal government resorted to the gambit of offering the militant groups a 4.5 billion naira (US$144 million) contract to ''guard'' oil infrastructure. Most accepted. The contract was [[Tompolo#Arrest warrant|renewed in August 2022]], but led to fierce disputes among the above-mentioned groups over the distribution of the funds. Representatives speak of "war"<ref name=":7">{{cite web |last=Bankole |first=Idowu |date=2022-09-15 |title=Niger Delta militants at war over pipelines surveillance contract |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/09/niger-delta-militants-at-war-over-pipelines-surveillance-contract/ |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}</ref> - against each other. The high propensity for violence and the pettiness of the leaders, as well as the complete absence of social and environmental arguments in this dispute<ref name=":7" /> give rise to fears that the militant groups, despite their lofty names, have discarded responsibility for their region and ethnic groups and have moved into the realm of protection rackets and self-enrichment. In any case, the pipelines in the Niger Delta are not very effectively "guarded" - the pollution of the Niger Delta with stolen crude oil and [[#Oil spills|illegally produced heavy fuel oil]] continued unhindered after 2016.<ref>{{cite news |date=2017-11-03 |title=Niger Delta Avengers group says ends ceasefire in Nigeria oil hub - website |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/nigeria-oil-idUSL8N1N93JA |access-date=2022-10-15}}</ref>

In central Nigeria, [[Herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria|conflicts between Muslim Hausa-Fulani herders and indigenous Christian farmers]] flared up again, especially in Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba and Benue states. In individual cases, these clashes have claimed several hundred lives. Conflict over land and resources is increasing due to the ongoing desertification in northern Nigeria, population growth and the generally tense economic situation.

In June 2022, a massacre took place in the St. Francis Xavier Church, in Owo. The Government blamed ISWAP for the murder of over 50 parishioners, but locals suspect Fulani herdsmen involvement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ACN |date=2022-06-07 |title=ACN statement about the Pentecost massacre in St. Francis Xavier Church in Owo, Nigeria |url=https://acninternational.org/massacre-in-owo-nigeria/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=ACN International |language=en-US}}</ref>