Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form:Nigeria
Government type: federal republic
Capital: name:Abujageographic coordinates:9 05 N, 7 32 E time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Independence: 1 October 1960 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Constitution: several previous; latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999; amended 2010 (2010)
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state:President Goodluck JONATHAN (since 5 May 2010, acting since 9 February 2010); Vice President Mohammed Namadi SAMBO (since 19 May 2010); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; JONATHAN assumed the presidency on 5 May 2010 following the death of President YAR'ADUA; JONATHAN was elected president on 16 April 2011head of government:President Goodluck JONATHAN (since 5 May 2010, acting since 9 February 2010); Vice President Mohammed Namadi SAMBO (since 19 May 2010) cabinet:Federal Executive Council elections:president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 April 2011 (next to be held in February 2015) election results:Goodluck JONATHAN elected president; percent of vote - Goodluck JONATHAN 58.9%, Muhammadu BUHARI 32.0%, Nuhu RIBADU 5.4%, Ibrahim SHEKARAU 2.4%, other 1.3%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109 seats, 3 from each state plus 1 from Abuja; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections:Senate - last held on 9 and 26 April 2011 (next to be held in February 2015); House of Representatives - last held on 9 and 26 April 2011 (next to be held in February 2015) election results:Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDP 73, ACN 17, ANPP 7, CPC 6, LP 4, other 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDP 205, ACN 69, CPC 36, ANPP 28, LP 9, APGA 6, ACC 5, other 2; note - due to logistical problems elections in a number of constituencies were held on 26 April 2011
Judicial branch: highest court(s):Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 15 justices)judge selection and term of office:judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a 23-member independent body of federal and state judicial officials; judge appointments confirmed by the Senate; judges serve until age 65 subordinate courts:Court of Appeal; Federal High Court; High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; state court system similar in structure to federal system
| | Political parties and leaders: Accord Party or ACC [Mohammad Lawal MALADO]Action Congress of Nigeria or ACN [Adebisi Bamidele AKANDE] All Nigeria Peoples Party or ANPP [Ogbonnaya C. ONU] All Progressives Congress [Adebisi Bamidele AKANDE, acting] All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor C. UMEH] Congress for Progressive Change or CPC [Tony MOMOH] Democratic Peoples Party or DPP [Biodun OGUNBIYI] Labor Party [Chief Dan NWANYANWU] Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Adamu MU'AZU]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Academic Staff Union for Universities or ASUU
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, D-8, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission:Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo ADEFUYE (since 26 March 2010)chancery:3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:[1] (202) 986-8400 FAX:[1] (202) 362-6541 consulate(s) general:Atlanta, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission:Ambassador James F. ENTWISTLE (since 28 October 2013)embassy:Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja mailing address:P. O. Box 5760, Garki, Abuja telephone:[234] (9) 461-4000 FAX:[234] (9) 461-4171
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green; the color green represents the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, white stands for peace and unity
National symbol(s): eagle
National anthem: name:'Arise Oh Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey'
lyrics/music:John A. ILECHUKWU, Eme Etim AKPAN, B. A. OGUNNAIKE, Sotu OMOIGUI and P. O. ADERIBIGBE/Benedict Elide ODIASE note:adopted 1978; the lyrics are a mixture of five of the top entries in a national contest |