The History of Nigeria, Africa

Historians date the first settlement of modern day Nigeria to 9000 B.C. The early history of the country is marked by a struggle between tribes in the north and tribes in the south. The Songhai Empire, which lasted from roughly the 16th century through the late 18th century, is significant because it was one of the longest lasting and because it significantly increased trade with Europe. Members of this empire remained in power during the 19th century, though the empire itself had been weakened. During the 1800s, Nigeria began trading heavily with the British. In 1901, the country became a British protectorate, essentially a colony. The British invested in education and infrastructure in the port city of Lagos and the southern half of the country more than they did in the north. This divergent development persists and is at the root of many internal conflicts.

Nigeria won independence from Britain in 1960. Independence came peacefully in the form of a referendum in the British Parliament, but the British had little choice but to grant it. Nigeria had experienced a post-World War II economic boom thanks to its agricultural exports, which reduced its dependence on Britain for financial support. In 1963, the country became a Federal Republic and today holds democratic elections, though it is dogged by allegations of vote-rigging.

In 1970, Nigeria became a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), a group of nations that work together to set price floors for oil. Oil exports make up 40 percent of Nigeria's gross domestic product, and the country is the world's 12th-largest oil exporter.

Nigeria is one of Africa's wealthiest nations, though income disparity between the urban coast and the inland areas is a continuing problem. According to the International Monetary Fund, Nigeria has one of the fastest-growing economies in the developing world. In 2005, Goldman Sachs named Nigeria one of the "Next 11" countries, indicating a forecast for high growth. In addition to its oil industry, Nigeria is a center of the financial services industry in Africa and is the base of manufacturing for several European car companies.

Nigeria is on the west coast of Africa. It borders Cameroon, Niger, Benin and Chad. The Niger Delta, where the Niger and Benue rivers meet, is the largest river delta in the world. Nigeria's coastline is the center of population, partly because of British development of this area for trade. There is a highlands area in the north of the country and savannah and saltwater swampland in the south. Rainforest makes up the southeastern border of the country with Cameroon.