Country Profile

Nigeria is the 14th-largest African country and possesses a rich and varied landscape, biodiversity and climate. While it is known for its oil and natural gas, Nigeria also has substantial reserves of coal, iron ore, zinc, tin, limestone, lead and niobium. The capital, Abuja, is located in the geographic centre and has a registered population of an estimated 1.6m. Nigeria has a varied assortment of ethnic groups, with the largest three – the Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa-Fulani – accounting for a collective 68% of the total population. The country holds significant political power in the region and on the international stage. This chapter contains interviews with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; Stephen Green, UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment; and Jim O’Neill, Chairman, Goldman Sachs Asset Management. It also includes a viewpoint with Ron Kirk, US Trade Representative.