Nigerian elections 
Area: 923,773 sq km
Currency: Naira (N)
Exchange rate:
2006 average $1 = N128.5088
Apr 10 2007$1 = N128.2000
Population: 136.5m (2003 est)*
Main towns and population
(2001 EIU est)
Abuja (capital) 2.0m
Lagos 10.0m**
Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo and many other local languages are widely spoken
Official name
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Form of state
Federal republic, comprising 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT, Abuja)
Legal system
Based on English common law
National legislature
National Assembly, comprising the 109-seat Senate and the 360-seat House of Representatives; both are elected by universal suffrage to serve a four-year term
National elections
April 12 2003 (legislative); April 19 2003 (presidential). The president was sworn in on May 29 2003
National government
The Federal Executive Council, which is chaired by the president; appointed June 30 1999
Head of state
President, currently Olusegun Obasanjo, re-elected by universal suffrage to serve a four-year term
State government
State governors and state houses of assembly
Main political parties
People’s Democratic Party (PDP);
All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP);
Alliance for Democracy (AD);
All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA);
National Democratic Party (NDP),
30 political parties are currently registered
*World Bank
** Subject to large variations
| Economic summary | 2006 estimate | 2007 estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Total GDP (Naira bn) | 14.857 | 16.345 |
| Total GDP ($bn) | 116.6 | 127.95 |
| Real GDP growth (annual % change) | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| GDP per head ($) | 810 | 875 |
| Inflation (annual % change in CPI) | 8.7 | 10.9 |
| Agricultural output (annual % change) | 8.0 | 5.3 |
| Industrial production (annual % change) | 2.1 | 5.8 |
| Money supply, M2 (annual % change) | 29.6 | 26.2 |
| Foreign exchange reserves ($bn) | 42.4 | 49.3 |
| Government expenditure (% of GDP) | 16.0 | 16.5 |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -1.0 | -1.4 |
| Total foreign debt (% of GDP) | 5.0 | 3.4 |
| Current account balance ($bn) | 15.7 | 13.0 |
| Merchandise exports ($bn) | 58.9 | 59.4 |
| Merchandise imports ($bn) | -27.6 | -30.0 |
| Trade balance ($bn) | 31.3 | 29.4 |
| Sources: Econmist Intelligence Unit; Thomson Datastream | ||
