Economy

With hydrocarbons accounting for 90% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange, sustained low oil prices in 2014 and 2015 reduced the availability of dollars and other major foreign currencies. This reverberated throughout the economy, given the need for dollars to buy imports for key staples ranging from rice to diesel fuels. As a result, Nigeria...

Following a peaceful handover of power – the country’s first – in 2015, Nigeria is currently enjoying its longest uninterrupted period of democratic rule. The government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari – who also served as head of state briefly in the 1980s – was elected in part as a result of a campaign that promised a zero-tolerance...

With Africa’s largest economy and its biggest population, Nigeria is the continent’s heavyweight. The country has been blessed with resource-rich lands, areas of great agricultural fertility and favourable demographics, but it has also had its fair share of challenges, ranging from poor infrastructure, secessionist movements, military coups and religious violence.

With a variety of economic and diplomatic ties linking it with superpowers both old and new, Nigeria has long been a prominent player in both the continental and global arena. While simultaneously pursuing a leadership role on a variety of cooperative initiatives with its West African neighbours, the country’s diplomatic efforts...

Given the size of its population and economy, and its high diplomatic profile in the African arena, Nigeria has a widely acknowledged role as continental heavyweight. Through successive administrations, and evidenced by the large military and financial contributions it has made to regional economic and peacekeeping efforts, Abuja has long...

ETIQUETTE: “For every village a different culture” is the expression that best describes the social norms, cultures and languages of Papua New Guinea’s population. Most locals will greet you with a warm smile, and the salutation “monin tru”(“a very good morning”) is considered the polite...