Country Profile

Nigeria is the third-biggest country in West Africa by area and 32nd largest in the world. With 853 km of coastline adjoining the Gulf of Guinea, it is well connected to international trade routes and acts as an important conduit of goods for its landlocked neighbours to the north. Nigeria is also blessed with an abundance of resources. In the last 18 months, significant political progress has been made in Nigeria. The ballot box has taken centre stage as the country carried out a peaceful handover of power at both the executive and legislative level. The incoming government has a number of pressing issues to tackle ranging from an Islamist insurgency in the north to a bruised oil industry in the south, alongside a slowing economy and depreciating currency.

This chapter contains viewpoints from President Muhammadu Buhari; and Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, IMF; as well as an interview with Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry.