NEE: Nigeria Flashcards
The importance and development of Nigeria
Nigeria was the 21st largest economy in the world in 2014.
It has the largest population, agricultural output and GDP of all African countries.
Political context to Nigeria’s development
-Nigeria was part of the British empire until 1960
-Nigeria suffered form conflict and unrest after independence but is now politically stable
Cultural context to Nigeria’s development
Nigeria is well-known for its music, cinema and football team
Environmental context to Nigeria’s development
The north of Nigeria is part of the Sahel and is very dry.
Much of Nigeria is tropical grassland, but the region nearest to the coastline is forested and ideal for growing cocoa.
Nigeria’s pre-2000 industrial structure
In 1999, almost 75% of Nigeria’s employment was in agriculture – the primary sector.
This has decreased as more machines are used and people move to new jobs.
Changes to Nigeria’s industrial structure
-In 2012, the employment structure of Nigeria was equally divided into primary, secondary and tertiary employment.
-Secondary employment has been boosted by the growth of the oil and manufacturing industries.
-Manufacturing contributes 10% of Nigeria’s GDP.
-Tertiary employment in Nigeria involves services such as finance and retail.
Positives of TNCs in Nigeros
TNCs often invest in staff training, infrastructure and education.
TNCs can lead to a multiplier effect where other industrial sectors see growth as a result of TNCs moving into the country.
Negatives of TNCs in Nigeria
But, TNCs are keen to pay workers as little as possible to keep their profits high and sometimes working conditions are poor.
Profits usually go back to the country where the TNC has its headquarters. This is known as leakage.
Shell Oil in Nigeria
Shell Oil is a TNC that extracts oil in the Niger Delta.
Shell Oil employs 65,000 workers and pays taxes to the Nigerian government, but has caused environmental damage to the Niger Delta including oil spills and fires.
Nigria’s global trading links
Nigeria used to export most of its oil to the USA, but now most of its oil goes to India.
Nigeria’s most important trading partner is the European Union.
Nigeria’s global political links
Nigeria was a part of the British Empire and is now a member of the Commonwealth.
Nigeria is also a member of the United Nations and the African Union.
Aid for Nigeria
The World Bank loaned US$50 million to Nigeria in 2014 for development projects.
Nets for Life (an NGO) helps tackle malaria by educating people and giving out bed nets.
The USA has funded projects to tackle the spread of AIDS.
Pros of economic development in Nigeria
As the economy of Nigeria has grown the Human Development Index has also increased, showing that quality of life has improved in general. For example, Nigerians are benefitting from:
Higher disposable income
Improved infrastructure
Better diets have led to increased life expectancy
More reliable supplies of water and electricity
More jobs in the formal sector, with reliable pay
Cons of development in Nigeria
-Economic growth has had negative environmental impacts:
Factories in cities such as Lagos can pollute water and air, harming wildlife and people.
70-80% of Nigeria’s forests have been cut down. This has led to water pollution, soil erosion and loss of habitats.
The capital city of Abuja suffers from traffic congestion and waste disposal problems.
The oil industry has polluted parts of the Niger Delta, damaging ecosystems and making it hard for farmers and fishermen to survive.
