HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:6,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Nicaraguan(s)adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%,Amerindian 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 72.9%, Evangelical 15.1%, Moravian 1.5%, Episcopal0.1%, other 1.9%, none 8.5% (1995 census)
Languages:Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67.5%male: 67.2%female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
Government Nicaragua
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Nicaraguaconventional short form: Nicaragualocal long form: Republica de Nicaragualocal short form: Nicaragua
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Managuageographic coordinates: 12 09 N, 86 17 Wtime difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during StandardTime)
Administrative divisions:15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - regionautonomista); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo,Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:9 January 1987; reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system:civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January2002); Vice President Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo (since 10 October 2005);note - the president is both chief of state and head of government;Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo was elected Vice President by the deputies ofthe National Assembly after Vice President Jose RIZO Castellonresigned on 27 September 2005head of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10January 2002); Vice President Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo (since 10 October2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);election last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November 2011)election results: Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) elected president -38.07%, Eduardo MONTEALEGRE (ALN) 29%, Jose RIZO (PLC) 26.21%,Edmundo JARQUIN (MRS) 6.44%; note - ORTEGA will take office 10January 2007
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats;members are elected by proportional representation and party liststo serve five-year terms; 1 seat for the previous president, 1 seatfor the runner-up in previous presidential election)elections: last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November2011)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -FSLN 38, PLC 25, ALN 23 (22 plus one for presidential candidateEduardo MONTEALEGRE, runner-up in the 2006 presidential election),MRS 5, APRE 1 (outgoing President Enrique BOLANOS)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-yearterms by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Miguel LOPEZ Baldizon]; CentralAmerican Unionist Party or PUCA [Blanca ROJAS]; ChristianAlternative Party or AC [Orlando TARDENCILLA Espinoza]; ConservativeParty or PC [Mario Sebastian RAPPACCIOLI]; Independent Liberal Partyor PLI [Anibal MARTINEZ Nunez, Pedro REYES Vallejos]; IndependentLiberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN [Carlos GUERRA Gallardo];Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; LiberalSalvation Movement or MSL [Eliseo NUNEZ Hernandez]; New LiberalParty or PALI [Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel]; Nicaraguan Liberal Allianceor ALN [Eduardo MONTEALEGRE]; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Pathor PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO Molina]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party orPRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; Sandinista National Liberation Front orFSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS[Dora Maria TELLEZ]; Unity Alliance or AU
Political pressure groups and leaders:National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group ofeight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association or ATC,Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and MartyrsConfederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, NationalAssociation of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union ofEmployees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG,Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists ofNicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is anumbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including -Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation ofLabor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Laboror CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; NicaraguanWorkers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; SuperiorCouncil of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation ofbusiness groups
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Salvador STADTHAGEN chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Paul A. TRIVELLI embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: P.O. Box 327 telephone: [505] 266-6010 FAX: [505] 266-3861
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue withthe national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat ofarms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DENICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar tothe flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled bythe words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered inthe white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has fiveblue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Economy Nicaragua
Economy - overview:Nicaragua, one of the Western Hemisphere's poorest countries, haslow per capita income, widespread underemployment, and a heavyexternal debt burden. Distribution of income is one of the mostunequal on the globe. While the country has progressed towardmacroeconomic stability in the past few years, GDP annual growth hasbeen far too low to meet the country's needs, forcing the country torely on international economic assistance to meet fiscal and debtfinancing obligations. Nicaragua qualified in early 2004 for some$4.5 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily IndebtedPoor Countries (HIPC) initiative because of its earlier successfulperformances under its International Monetary Fund policy programand other efforts. In October 2005, Nicaragua ratified theUS-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which will providean opportunity for Nicaragua to attract investment, create jobs, anddeepen economic development. High oil prices helped drive inflationto 9.6% in 2005, leading to a fall in real GDP growth to 4% fromover 5% in 2004.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$16.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.03 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.5% industry: 27.5% services: 56% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.01 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 30.5% industry: 17.3% services: 52.2% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.6% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 45% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:55.1 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.6% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):27% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.134 billionexpenditures: $1.358 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:82.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp,lobsters
Industries:food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear,wood
Industrial production growth rate:2.4% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:2.887 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.9% hydro: 7.7% nuclear: 0% other: 8.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.848 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:21.8 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:23.3 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:14,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:25,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:758.9 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:15,560 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-835 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$1.55 billion f.o.b.; note - includes free trade zones (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts
Exports - partners:US 60.7%, Mexico 8.6%, El Salvador 6.2% (2005)
Imports:$2.865 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleumproducts
Imports - partners:US 19.6%, Mexico 10.3%, Venezuela 9.5%, Costa Rica 8.5%, Guatemala6.7%, El Salvador 4.5%, South Korea 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$727.8 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$3.188 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$419.5 million (2005 est.)
Currency (code):gold cordoba (NIO)
Currency code:NIO
Exchange rates:gold cordobas per US dollar - 16.733 (2005), 15.937 (2004), 15.105(2003), 14.251 (2002), 13.372 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Nicaragua
Telephones - main lines in use:220,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.119 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by foreigninvestmentdomestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system beingexpanded; connected to Central American Microwave Systeminternational: country code - 505; satellite earth stations - 1Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:320,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ni
Internet hosts:24,452 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:140,000 (2005)
Transportation Nicaragua
Airports: 176 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 165 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 141 (2006)
Pipelines: oil 54 km (2006)
Railways: total: 6 km narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 19,036 km paved: 2,299 km unpaved: 16,737 km (2005)
Waterways:2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (2005)
Ports and terminals:Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff
Military Nicaragua
Military branches:Army (includes Navy, Air Force)
Military service age and obligation:17 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 1,309,970females age 17-49: 1,315,186 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 1,051,425females age 17-49: 1,129,649 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 65,170females age 17-49: 63,133 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$32.27 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Nicaragua
Disputes - international:Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and againstColombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundaryinvolving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including theArchipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; the1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartiteresolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca,which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal dispute overnavigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US andtransshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Niger
Introduction Niger
Background:Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experiencedsingle-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU wasforced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, whichresulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infightingbrought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup byCol. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999 BARE was killed in a coup by militaryofficers who promptly restored democratic rule and held electionsthat brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year.TANDJA was reelected in 2004. Niger is one of the poorest countriesin the world with minimal government services and insufficient fundsto develop its resource base. The largely agrarian andsubsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extendeddroughts common to the Sahel region of Africa.
Geography Niger
Location:Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1.267 million sq kmland: 1,266,700 sq kmwater: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,697 kmborder countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plainsin south; hills in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Niger River 200 mhighest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Natural resources:uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum,salt, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 11.43% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 88.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:730 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northernfour-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable forlivestock and limited agriculture
People Niger
Population:12,525,094 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.9% (male 2,994,022/female 2,882,273)15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,262,114/female 3,083,522)65 years and over: 2.4% (male 150,982/female 152,181) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 16.5 yearsmale: 16.5 yearsfemale: 16.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.92% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:50.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:20.91 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 118.25 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 122.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 114.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 43.76 yearsmale: 43.8 yearsfemale: 43.73 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:7.46 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:70,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:4,800 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality: noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups:Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri)4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 Frenchexpatriates
Religions:Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian
Languages:French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 17.6%male: 25.8%female: 9.7% (2003 est.)
Government Niger
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Nigerconventional short form: Nigerlocal long form: Republique du Nigerlocal short form: Niger
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Niameygeographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district*(communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua,Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence:3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution:new constitution adopted 18 July 1999
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999);note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head ofgovernment; Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 31 December 1999) wasappointed by the president and shares some executiveresponsibilities with the presidentcabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); second round last held 4 December 2004(next to be held December 2009); prime minister appointed by thepresidentelection results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent ofvote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; note - expanded from 83seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)elections: last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -MNSD 47, CDS 22, PNDS 25, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, PSDN 1
Judicial branch:State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [MahamaneOUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara orMNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN;Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya orANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Autonomyor PNA-Alouma'a [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy andSocialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien ProgressiveParty or PPN-RDA [Abdoulaye DIORI]; Rally for Democracy and Progressor RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally orRSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Coalition Against a High Cost of Living [Nouhou ARZIKA]
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC,OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB(regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Aminata Maiga Djibrilla TOURE chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227 FAX: [1] (202)483-3169
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bernadette M. ALLEN embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: [227] 73 31 69 FAX: [227] 73 55 60
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green witha small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the whiteband; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheelcentered in the white band
Economy Niger
Economy - overview:Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking last onthe United Nations Development Fund index of human development. Itis a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers onsubsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largesturanium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, a 2.9% populationgrowth rate, and the drop in world demand for uranium have undercutthe economy. Niger shares a common currency, the CFA franc, and acommon central bank, the Central Bank of West African States(BCEAO), with seven other members of the West African MonetaryUnion. In December 2000, Niger qualified for enhanced debt reliefunder the International Monetary Fund program for Highly IndebtedPoor Countries (HIPC) and concluded an agreement with the Fund on aPoverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Debt relief providedunder the enhanced HIPC initiative significantly reduces Niger'sannual debt service obligations, freeing funds for expenditures onbasic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, ruralinfrastructure, and other programs geared at poverty reduction. InDecember 2005, it was announced that Niger had received 100%multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which translates into theforgiveness of approximately $86 million USD in debts to the IMF,excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. Nearly half of thegovernment's budget is derived from foreign donor resources. Futuregrowth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, andother mineral resources. Uranium prices have recovered somewhat inthe last few years. A drought and locust infestation in 2005 led tofood shortages for as many as 2.5 million Nigerians.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$11.59 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$3.432 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 39%industry: 17%services: 44% (2001)
Labor force:70,000 salaried workers, 60% of whom are employed in the publicsector (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 90%industry: 6%services: 4%
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:63% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:50.5 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.2% (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $320 million - including $134 million from foreign sourcesexpenditures: $320 million; including capital expenditures of $178million (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products:cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice;cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
Industries:uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing,chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate:5.1% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:230 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:263.9 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:50 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,400 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:$222 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
Exports - partners:France 47.8%, Nigeria 21.4%, US 20.3% (2005)
Imports:$588 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports - partners:France 14.5%, US 10.7%, French Polynesia 7.5%, Nigeria 7.4%, Italy6.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.1%, Belgium 4.6%, Germany 4.5%, China 4.5%(2005)
Debt - external:$2.1 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$453.3 million (2003)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States (BCEAO)
Currency code:XOF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Niger
Telephones - main lines in use:24,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:299,900 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: small system of wire, radio telephonecommunications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in thesouthwestern area of Nigerdomestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radiorelay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 plannedinternational: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:680,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002)
Televisions:125,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ne
Internet hosts:189 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:24,000 (2005)
Transportation Niger
Airports:28 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 92,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 5under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 191,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 15under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Roadways:total: 10,100 kmpaved: 798 kmunpaved: 9,302 km (1999)
Waterways:300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gayabetween September and March) (2005)
Ports and terminals:none
Military Niger
Military branches:Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army,National Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript serviceobligation - two years (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,367,828females age 18-49: 2,217,568 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,349,863females age 18-49: 1,256,569 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 129,045females age 18-49: 121,230 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$44.78 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Niger
Disputes - international:Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute;much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria,remains undemarcated; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the LakeChad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty whichalso includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Nigeria
Introduction Nigeria
Background:British influence and control over what would become Nigeria grewthrough the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World WarII granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960.Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution wasadopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian governmentwas completed. The president faces the daunting task of reforming apetroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered throughcorruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. Inaddition, the OBASANJO administration must defuse longstandingethnic and religious tensions, if it is to build a sound foundationfor economic growth and political stability. Although the April 2003elections were marred by some irregularities, Nigeria is currentlyexperiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence.
Geography Nigeria
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin andCameroon
Geographic coordinates:10 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 923,768 sq kmland: 910,768 sq kmwater: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:total: 4,047 kmborder countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger1,497 km
Coastline:853 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain:southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountainsin southeast, plains in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources:natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium,lead, zinc, arable land
Land use: arable land: 33.02% permanent crops: 3.14% other: 63.84% (2005)
Irrigated land:2,820 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; flooding
Environment - current issues: soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows southwardthrough tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf ofGuinea
People Nigeria
Population:131,859,731note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.3% (male 28,089,017/female 27,665,212)15-64 years: 54.6% (male 36,644,885/female 35,405,915)65 years and over: 3.1% (male 1,930,007/female 2,124,695) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.7 yearsmale: 18.7 yearsfemale: 18.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.38% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:40.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:16.94 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 97.14 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 104.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 90.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 47.08 yearsmale: 46.52 yearsfemale: 47.66 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.49 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:5.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3.6 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:310,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever (2005)
Nationality: noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic groups:Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous andpolitically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo(Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
Religions:Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages:English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 68%male: 75.7%female: 60.6% (2003 est.)
Government Nigeria
Country name:conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeriaconventional short form: Nigeria
Government type:federal republic
Capital:name: Abujageographic coordinates: 9 12 N, 7 11 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard 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, Nassarawa, Niger,Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Independence:1 October 1960 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Constitution:new constitution adopted May 1999
Legal system:based on English common law, Islamic Shariah law (in 12 northernstates), and traditional law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Federal Executive Councilelections: president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 19 April 2003 (nextto be held April 2007)election results: Olusegun OBASANJO elected president; percent ofvote - Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) 61.9%, Muhammadu BUHARI (ANPP) 31.2%,Chukwuemeka Odumegwu OJUKWU (APGA) 3.3%, other 3.6%
Legislative branch:bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (109 seats - 3 fromeach state plus 1 from Abuja, members elected by popular vote toserve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats,members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held in2007); House of Representatives - last held 12 April 2003 (next tobe held in 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53.7%,ANPP 27.9%, AD 9.7%; seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6; Houseof Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.5%, ANPP27.4%, AD 8.8%, other 9.3%; seats by party - PDP 223, ANPP 96, AD34, other 6; note - one seat is vacant
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges appointed by the President); Federal Court ofAppeal (judges are appointed by the federal government on the adviceof the Advisory Judicial Committee)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Democracy or AD [Mojisoluwa AKINFENWA]; All NigeriaPeoples' Party or ANPP [Don ETIEBET]; All Progressives GrandAlliance or APGA [disputed leadership]; National Democratic Party orNDP [Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Dr. AhmaduALI]; Peoples Redemption Party or PRP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA];Peoples Salvation Party or PSP [Lawal MAITURARE]; United NigeriaPeoples Party or UNPP [disputed leadership]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM,OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Professor George A. OBIOZORchancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400FAX: [1] (202) 775-1385consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John CAMPBELLembassy: 7 Mambilla Drive, Abujamailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagostelephone: [234] (9) 523-0916/0906/5857/2235/2205FAX: [234] (9) 523-0353
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
Economy Nigeria
Economy - overview:Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability,corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomicmanagement, is undertaking some reforms under a new reform-mindedadministration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversifythe economy away from its overdependence on the capital-intensiveoil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchangeearnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues. The largelysubsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapidpopulation growth - Nigeria is Africa's most populous country - andthe country, once a large net exporter of food, now must importfood. Following the signing of an IMF stand-by agreement in August2000, Nigeria received a debt-restructuring deal from the Paris Cluband a $1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on economicreforms. Nigeria pulled out of its IMF program in April 2002, afterfailing to meet spending and exchange rate targets, making itineligible for additional debt forgiveness from the Paris Club. Inthe last year the government has begun showing the political will toimplement the market-oriented reforms urged by the IMF, such as tomodernize the banking system, to curb inflation by blockingexcessive wage demands, and to resolve regional disputes over thedistribution of earnings from the oil industry. In 2003, thegovernment began deregulating fuel prices, announced theprivatization of the country's four oil refineries, and institutedthe National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, adomestically designed and run program modeled on the IMF's PovertyReduction and Growth Facility for fiscal and monetary management.GDP rose strongly in 2005, based largely on increased oil exportsand high global crude prices. In November 2005, Abuja won Paris Clubapproval for a historic debt-relief deal that by March 2006 shouldeliminate $30 billion worth of Nigeria's total $37 billion externaldebt. The deal first requires that Nigeria repay roughly $12 billionin arrears to its bilateral creditors. Nigeria would then be allowedto buy back its remaining debt stock at a discount. The deal alsocommits Nigeria to more intensified IMF reviews.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$175.5 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$77.33 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26.9% industry: 48.7% services: 24.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 57.21 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 70% industry: 10% services: 20% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:2.9% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:60% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 40.8% (1996-97)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:50.6 (1996-97)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):13.5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $12.86 billionexpenditures: $13.54 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:11% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava(tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish
Industries:crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber,wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other constructionmaterials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing,ceramics, steel, small commercial ship construction and repair
Industrial production growth rate:3.8% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:15.59 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61.9% hydro: 38.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:14.46 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:40 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:2.451 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:310,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:36 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:19.2 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:7.41 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:7.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:4.502 trillion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$5.597 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$52.16 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber
Exports - partners:US 49.7%, Brazil 10.4%, Spain 7.6% (2005)
Imports:$25.95 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodand live animals
Imports - partners:China 10.4%, US 7.3%, UK 6.7%, Netherlands 6%, France 5.9%, Germany4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$28.28 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$32.45 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:IMF, $250 million (1998)
Currency (code):naira (NGN)
Currency code:NGN
Exchange rates:nairas per US dollar - 132.59 (2005), 132.89 (2004), 129.22 (2003),120.58 (2002), 111.23 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Nigeria
Telephones - main lines in use:1,223,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:21,571,131 (2006)
Telephone system:general assessment: expansion and modernization of the fixed-linetelephone network has been slow due to faltering efforts atprivatizationdomestic: the addition of a second fixed-line provider in 2002resulted in faster growth in this service; wireless telephony hasgrown rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of thefixed-line network; four wireless (GSM) service providers operatenationally; the combined growth resulted in a sharp increase inteledensity reported to be over 18% in March 2006international: country code - 234; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); fiber opticsubmarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)
Radios:23.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations and 15 repeater stations) (2002)
Televisions:6.9 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ng
Internet hosts:1,549 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):11 (2000)
Internet users:5 million (2005)
Transportation Nigeria
Airports: 69 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 18 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 126 km; gas 2,812 km; liquid petroleum gas 125 km; oil4,278 km; refined products 3,517 km (2006)
Railways:total: 3,505 kmnarrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 194,394 kmpaved: 60,068 kmunpaved: 134,326 km (1999)
Waterways:8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks)(2005)
Merchant marine:total: 52 ships (1000 GRT or over) 277,709 GRT/475,414 DWTby type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 5, combination ore/oil 1,liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 36, specializedtanker 2foreign-owned: 4 (Norway 1, Pakistan 1, Singapore 1, Spain 1)registered in other countries: 28 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 11, Cambodia2, Comoros 2, Panama 7, Poland 1, Seychelles 1, unknown 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos, Port Harcourt
Military Nigeria
Military branches:Nigerian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, NigerAir Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 26,802,678females age 18-49: 25,668,446 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 15,052,914females age 18-49: 13,860,806 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 1,353,180females age 18-49: 1,329,267 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$737.6 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.8% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Nigeria
Disputes - international:ICJ ruled in 2002 on the entire Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritimeboundary but the parties formed a Joint Border Commission to resolvedifferences bilaterally and have commenced with demarcation inless-contested sections of the boundary, starting in Lake Chad inthe north; following the UN-brokered Greentree Agreement of 12 June2006, Nigeria, in completion of the 2002 ICJ decision on theCameroon-Nigerian land boundary, handed sovereignty of the Bakassipeninsula to Cameroon on 14 August; all Nigerian military forceshave reportedly withdrawn from the region but Nigeria will continueto maintain a police and administrative presence in the southeastern"transition zone" for a period of up to two years; Nigeria pledgesto provide for the resettlement of those Bakassi residents who wishto remain Nigerian citizens; the ICJ ruled on an equidistancesettlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundaryin the Gulf of Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in theICJ decision and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea andCameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River allcontribute to the delay in implementation; a joint task force wasestablished in 2004 that resolved disputes over and redrew themaritime and the 870-km land boundary with Benin on the OkparaRiver; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake ChadCommission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which alsoincludes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 200,000 - 250,000 (communal violence between Christians andMuslims since President OBASANJO's election in 1999) (2005)
Illicit drugs:a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, EastAsian, and North American markets; safehaven for Nigeriannarcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center;massive corruption and criminal activity; Nigeria has improved someanti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from theFinancial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries andTerritories List in June 2006; Nigeria's anti-money-launderingregime continues to be monitored by FATF