Nigeria

Question 1

: Where is Nigeria located and what is its importance?

Answer 1

Nigeria is located in West Africa, bordering Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

It is a Newly-Emerging Economy and became the world’s 21st largest economy in 2014.

Regionally, it has Africa’s largest population and its highest GDP as of 2014

Question 2

Q: What is the wider context (Political, Social, Cultural, Environmental) of Nigeria?

Answer 2

Nigeria gained independence from the UK in 1960 and has maintained a stable government since 1999.

It is a multi-ethnic country including the Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani, and Igbo groups.

Its ‘Nollywood’ film industry is the second largest in the world.

Environmentally, the south features high rainfall and forest while the north is semi-desert.

Question 3

Q: How is Nigeria’s industrial structure changing and stimulating development?

Answer 3

Sector Balance: Employment in agriculture has fallen (from 70% to 40% in 2014) due to mechanization, while the service sector has grown in telecommunications and finance.

Manufacturing Stimulus: Manufacturing now accounts for 10% of Nigeria’s GDP. This stimulates development by providing regular paid work (secure income) and creating chemical by-products from oil processing used for soaps and plastics.

Question 4

Q: What are the advantages of Shell as a TNC in Nigeria?

Answer 4

Shell provides direct employment for 65,000 Nigerian workers and 250,000 jobs in related industries. T

Local Economy: 91% of Shell’s contracts are given to Nigerian companies, and the firm makes major contributions to the country’s tax and export revenue

Question 5

Q: What are the disadvantages of Shell as a TNC in Nigeria?

Answer 5

Environmental Damage: Bodo oil spills (2008/09) leaked 11 million gallons of crude oil over a 20km² area, devastating the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and fishermen

Pollution & Conflict: Gas flaring sends toxic fumes into the air, and oil theft/sabotage costs TNCs and the government billions of dollars annually

Question 6

Q: How have Nigeria’s political and trading relationships changed?

Answer 6

Political Links: Since 1960, Nigeria has moved from a British colony to a leading member of the Commonwealth, the African Union, and ECOWAS (trading group).

Trading Partners: While the USA was the biggest customer for oil, the development of shale oil there led to a shift; now India and China are the main customers, with oil exports to these regions increasing by 40% recently.

Question 7

: What are the impacts of international aid on Nigeria?

Answer 7

Nigeria receives 4% of all aid given to Africa, totaling nearly US$5,000 million in 2013

Health: The Aduwan Health Centre (Kaduna State) was built in 2010 to immunize children against polio and test for HIV.

Resilience: The NGO ‘Nets for Life’ provides education on malaria prevention and distributes anti-mosquito nets to households

Question 8

Q: What are the environmental impacts of Nigeria’s economic development?

Answer 8

Industrial/Urban Pollution: Many of the 5,000 registered industrial plants dispose of chemical waste on land or in water channels, and traffic congestion in cities leads to high exhaust emissions.

Habitat Loss: 70–80% of Nigeria’s forests have been destroyed through logging and urban expansion, causing species like cheetahs and giraffes to disappear

Question 9

Q: How has economic development affected the quality of life in Nigeria?

Answer 9

Improvements: Nigeria’s HDI has increased steadily since 2005 (0.46 to 0.50), and life expectancy rose from 46 to 52 years between 1990 and 2013.

Remaining Challenges: Despite oil wealth, the gap between rich and poor is widening, and 60% of the population still live on less than US$1 per day.