Nigeria - News, discussions & updates

[Indx TechStyle]

Let's keep a thread for Africa's most populated country (and supposedly only one who will compete with China & India in population by end of century).

Don't think Indians care much about Nigeria but for past year, I have started to take interest in their politics.

 

[SKC]

The Country which has superiority syndrome in Africa. Considers themselves as Kings of the continent.

Starting with the latest incident regarding involvement of India as reported in Economy thread:

Nigerians are reacting to news of Dangote employing 11,000 Indians

 

[Tactical Doge]

How likely is a civil war between Christian majority south and muslim majority north Nigeria?

 

[SKC]

How likely is a civil war between Christian majority south and muslim majority north Nigeria?

There will be soon!

 

[Tactical Doge]

There will be soon!

Why?
Aren't they relatively well off than all other afros?

 

[SKC]

Per ChatGPT:

As of my last update in September 2021, the religious demography of Nigeria was approximately as follows in terms of percentage:

1. Islam: Around 50% of the Nigerian population identified as Muslim.
2. Christianity: Approximately 40% of the Nigerian population identified as Christian.
3. Indigenous Religions: The remaining 10% consisted of followers of indigenous or traditional African religions.

Country is overly dependent on Oil and Gas and soon the two biggest demographic group will be competing for power.


Bing AI chat gives more balanced and politically neutral answer:

According to an article on the Council on Foreign Relations website, the conflict in Nigeria is more complicated than “Christians vs. Muslims.” Christians are certainly murdered in Nigeria, and in some cases, they are murdered because they are Christian. But, despite Boko Haram’s murderous hostility to Christians, most of its victims have always been Muslim, not least because the insurgency takes place in a predominantly Muslim part of the country.

In another article on the Thompson Citizen website, it is mentioned that there probably won’t be a full-scale civil war in Nigeria this time around.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Per ChatGPT:

As of my last update in September 2021, the religious demography of Nigeria was approximately as follows in terms of percentage:

1. Islam: Around 50% of the Nigerian population identified as Muslim.
2. Christianity: Approximately 40% of the Nigerian population identified as Christian.
3. Indigenous Religions: The remaining 10% consisted of followers of indigenous or traditional African religions.

Country is overly dependent on Oil and Gas and soon the two biggest demographic group will be competing for power.


Bing AI chat gives more balanced and politically neutral answer:

According to an article on the Council on Foreign Relations website, the conflict in Nigeria is more complicated than “Christians vs. Muslims.” Christians are certainly murdered in Nigeria, and in some cases, they are murdered because they are Christian. But, despite Boko Haram’s murderous hostility to Christians, most of its victims have always been Muslim, not least because the insurgency takes place in a predominantly Muslim part of the country.

In another article on the Thompson Citizen website, it is mentioned that there probably won’t be a full-scale civil war in Nigeria this time around.

Let's give a quick introduction.

Location in Africa (Delhi to Abuja is 7500 kms)

• Area ~ 9.24 lakh sq. kilometres (slightly larger than Pakistan).
• Population ~ 23 crores recorded (similar to Pakistan again).
• They have 50%+ Muslims (mostly in South) and 45%+ Christians (mostly in North) and less than 2% people with indigenous religions, always perpetually at conflict with each other. Highly diverse in terms of ethnicity and languages. Religious and ethnic enmity & killings are too common.
• Boko Haram is the most powerful resident militant group here, is more powerful in Nigeria than TTP is in Pakistan.
• Country has world's fastest growing population (reflected by their median age is below 19 years). May even match or surpass China by end of this century (or in first quarter of next one).
• Rich in oil. India's alternative to middle-east.
• Has unstable regimes of Democracy/Marshall law/Democracy/Marshal Law similar to Pakistani history again.
• Has bigger number of poor people than India despite having less than 1/6 of India's population.
• Country by far is largest economy of Africa, bigger than South Africa and Egypt.
• Despite that, there is no projected future of socio economic improvements since population bomb eats up all the growth. It's population often grows faster than GDP and more people fall below poverty line every year.
• Dangote is their notable MNC and Nairaland is their largest online forum (for civilian issues).
• There was a big separatist movement to create a new country called Biafra in 60s and 70s what caused Nigerian civil war.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Why?
Aren't they relatively well off than all other afros?

No, leaving out Arabic countries & foreign settlements like Seychelles, these are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and lately to some extent, fast growing Kenya and Ghana which are well off to some extent.

Even if oil shoots up Nigeria's per capita income, it's living standards are still similar to Niger, CAR and Chad etc..

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Let's give a quick introduction.

Location in Africa (Delhi to Abuja is 7500 kms)
View attachment 216350

• Area ~ 9.24 lakh sq. kilometres (slightly larger than Pakistan).
• Population ~ 23 crores recorded (similar to Pakistan again).
• They have 50%+ Muslims (mostly in South) and 45%+ Christians (mostly in North) and less than 2% people with indigenous religions, always perpetually at conflict with each other. Highly diverse in terms of ethnicity and languages. Religious and ethnic enmity & killings are too common.
• Boko Haram is the most powerful resident militant group here, is more powerful in Nigeria than TTP is in Pakistan.
• Country has world's fastest growing population (reflected by their median age is below 19 years). May even match or surpass China by end of this century (or in first quarter of next one).
• Rich in oil. India's alternative to middle-east.
• Has unstable regimes of Democracy/Marshall law/Democracy/Marshal Law similar to Pakistani history again.
• Has bigger number of poor people than India despite having less than 1/6 of India's population.
• Country by far is largest economy of Africa, bigger than South Africa and Egypt.
• Despite that, there is no projected future of socio economic improvements since population bomb eats up all the growth. It's population often grows faster than GDP and more people fall below poverty line every year.
• Dangote is their notable MNC and Nairaland is their largest online forum (for civilian issues).
• There was a big separatist movement to create a new country called Biafra in 60s and 70s what caused Nigerian civil war.

PS, Nigeria is a Presidential republic with P-VP team similar to US system and not a parliamentary republic where PM is leader and selected from parliament. Elections happen every 4 years there.

I first came across political posts and conficts on Twitter when Nigeria had crossed India in total number of poor people too and that had become political row there. Poverty rate was 46% and it was 2019 presidential election to happen in Nigeria. Mohammad Buhari was President and Atiku Abubakar was main opposition leader (who lost even after that scale of campaign). Reading out local politics, prompted me to take interest in Nigeria's and rest of Africa's history, demographics and economics as I used to barely read anything about Africa earlier. I nearly learnt entire African map and their socio economic indices in few months. Then I left abruptly. I later revisited and learnt in 2023 that Buhari was replaced Tinubu as new president. President Bazoum is now held by military who has done a coup WTF?

(Until I realised that coup was in Niger and not Nigeria LOL).

Niger soldiers announce coup on national TV, says ‘overthrown President, dissolved constitution’
1 min read 27 Jul 2023, 06:22 AM ISTLivemint
Niger soldiers stage coup on national TV, suspending constitution, closing borders. US and UN express support for President Bazoum, citing importance in fighting Islamist militancy. Concerns raised over stability of the country.

Nigeria soldiers announce coup on national TV

Niger soldiers have publicly announced a coup on national TV, declaring the dissolution of the constitution, suspension of institutions, and closure of borders. President Mohamed Bazoum is being held by the presidential guard since the coup's inception.

Addressing the public, Col Maj Amadou Abdramane, with nine other uniformed soldiers behind him, said on Wednesday, "We, the defence and security forces... have decided to put an end to the regime you know.

They said "all institutions" in the country would be suspended, borders were closed, and a curfew had been imposed "until further notice", from 10 pm to 5 am.

"This follows the continuing deterioration of the security situation, and poor economic and social governance."

"All external partners are asked not to interfere," he went on. "Land and air borders are closed until the situation has stabilised." He added a night curfew would take effect from 22:00 until 05:00 local time until further notice.

Abdramane claimed the soldiers were acting for the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CLSP).

Army and national guard are ready to attack: Nigerian president's office

Meanwhile, the president's office said "elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper... (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard".

"The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition," the presidency said.

"The president and his family are well," it added.

Bazoum was elected in April 2021, taking the helm of a country burdened by poverty, chronic instability and plagued in recent years by jihadist insurgency.

In response, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed unwavering support to President Bazoum, emphasising his importance as a Western ally in combating Islamist militancy in West Africa.

Similarly, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres offered full support to President Bazoum in the midst of the political crisis. The situation has drawn international attention and concern for the stability of the West African nation.

 

[Rassil Krishnan]

PS, Nigeria is a Presidential republic with P-VP team similar to US system and not a parliamentary republic where PM is leader and selected from parliament. Elections happen every 4 years there.

I first came across political posts and conficts on Twitter when Nigeria had crossed India in total number of poor people too and that had become political row there. Poverty rate was 46% and it was 2019 presidential election to happen in Nigeria. Mohammad Buhari was President and Atiku Abubakar was main opposition leader (who lost even after that scale of campaign). Reading out local politics, prompted me to take interest in Nigeria's and rest of Africa's history, demographics and economics as I used to barely read anything about Africa earlier. I nearly learnt entire African map and their socio economic indices in few months. Then I left abruptly. I later revisited and learnt in 2023 that Buhari was replaced Tinubu as new president. President Bazoum is now held by military who has done a coup WTF?

(Until I realised that coup was in Niger and not Nigeria LOL).

yeah they have a higher total number of people in absolute poverty(the worst kind of poverty) than India despite having 1/6th the population of India. The thing is this does not seem to be improving as they are still very much in their population growth stage with TFR above 5 children, so expect a lot more people in absolute poverty.

Also, they get a lot of their gov revenue from oil, the proceeds with which they did not utilize in the most efficient way relative to the arab oil states. at least in the arab states, they are stabilizing in population and the infra and service have improved to first-world European status even though the quality of human resources, R&D and manufacturing, and other industries are pretty mid or bad.

Nigeria should be careful as their only saving grace seems to be oil, they really need to control the population, or else , the current poverty will be trivial compared to the numbers in the coming decades.

 

[Tactical Doge]

No, leaving out Arabic countries & foreign settlements like Seychelles, these are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and lately to some extent, fast growing Kenya and Ghana which are well off to some extent.

Even if oil shoots up Nigeria's per capita income, it's living standards are still similar to Niger, CAR and Chad etc..

So a civil war along communal lines is possible you say

What would you place your bet as the sparking point

 

[sameer3694]

• They have 50%+ Muslims (mostly in South) and 45%+ Christians (mostly in North) and less than 2% people with indigenous religions, always perpetually at conflict with each other. Highly diverse in terms of ethnicity and languages. Religious and ethnic enmity & killings are too common.

Small correction here, it's the opposite. Muslims are mostly in the North and Christians are mostly in the South.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

yeah they have a higher total number of people in absolute poverty(the worst kind of poverty) than India despite having 1/6th the population of India. The thing is this does not seem to be improving as they are still very much in their population growth stage with TFR above 5 children, so expect a lot more people in absolute poverty.

They might already be having. The case with small proto/non industrial developing states like Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Myanmar, DRC, Afghanistan, Somalia and Yemen etc. is that they don't have absolute demographic and economic data of their populations.

Their GDPs and populations are just "estimated" numbers.

Also, they get a lot of their gov revenue from oil, the proceeds with which they did not utilize in the most efficient way relative to the arab oil states. at least in the arab states, they are stabilizing in population and the infra and service have improved to first-world European status even though the quality of human resources, R&D and manufacturing, and other industries are pretty mid or bad.

Arabian landmass was just a RELATIVELY settled civilisation and less nomadic/tribal in nature than African ones.

It is the case that countries with a culture of settled life in Western and Eastern world are either rich or catching up fast.
Even Arab world without oil, sucks at innovation, ranks low at economic complexity and will be left behind South America if not Africa without oil.

So a civil war along communal lines is possible you say

What would you place your bet as the sparking point

Distribution of wealth between religious groups. There's a good gap between richness levels of Christians and Muslims.

Can't say though. Even with instability and hostilities higher than levels of India's neighbouring countries, decades pass without civil war.

 

[SKC]

Their population TRIPLED in last 40 years which is quite explosive.

From 7cr during 1980s to over 23cr in 2023. And still having population growth of ~3.4%

 

[sameer3694]

Their population TRIPLED in last 40 years which is quite explosive.

From 7cr during 1980s to over 23cr in 2023. And still having population growth of ~3.4%

Additionally their population growth will be very uneven in years to come.

From the below paper

The total fertility rate (TFR) of Christians decreased significantly from 6·1 to 4·5 children per woman between 1990 and 2013, the TFR of Muslims increased from 6·4 to 6·8 children per woman. The timing of this divergence coincides with the formal institutionalization of Sharia law in 1999

The changing religious composition of Nigeria: causes and implications of demographic divergence

pure.iiasa.ac.at

.

A difference of 2.3 kids is staggeringly high. For context, in India the difference between Hindus and Muslims is around 0.5~0.6(per latest NFHS). Not to mention all their oil rich regions are present in the Niger river delta which is in the South(Christian dominated). All in all Nigeria is destined to be an explosive tinderbox.

 

[Tshering22]

Nigeria is not having it easy at all.

Look at this news from this week alone. There is an ongoing manpower crisis in almost every field despite having a population of 23 crores.

Foreign-trained doctors' mass failure worsens Nigeria's skilled manpower crisis

I wonder how come Nigerian medical graduates from countries like Russia, Hungary, Belarus, India and Cyprus are failing their local medical examinations. These countries have a far superior medical science knowledge and requirements than anything that Nigeria has to offer at this point.

Basically, they are just an oil-rich version of Pakistan, where a few barons up in the hierarchy control immense wealth while the common Nigerians just breed and remain in high levels of poverty.

If Nigeria succumbs to the Western pressure under the ECOWAS arrangement and attacks Niger, this would be a big blow to any sense of the emerging African unity. Not to mention that it would tank their already fragile economy.

 

[FalconSlayers]

 

[blackjack]

DD Geopolitics
@DD_Geopolitics
Pentagon Keeps Troops in Niger

On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced the suspension of security cooperation with Niger due to the ongoing political unrest in the West African nation. However, it clarified that U.S. troops are not being evacuated, and some of them are still maintaining engagement with members of the country's military.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's top spokesman, assured reporters that there is no imminent threat against any U.S. personnel or American citizens in Niger.

 

[Azaad]

View attachment 217025
DD Geopolitics
@DD_Geopolitics
Pentagon Keeps Troops in Niger

On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced the suspension of security cooperation with Niger due to the ongoing political unrest in the West African nation. However, it clarified that U.S. troops are not being evacuated, and some of them are still maintaining engagement with members of the country's military.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's top spokesman, assured reporters that there is no imminent threat against any U.S. personnel or American citizens in Niger.

The beautiful part of the whole sordid drama is if conflict breaks out it'd change the geographical boundaries of the entire region , destroy France's influence & neo colonial empire & the icing on the cake - escalate the movement of refugees to Europe exponentially. The best part is practically all of them are peacefuls from Francophone Africa.

Europe especially France never forgets its history nor learns anything from it .

 

[blackjack]

The beautiful part of the whole sordid drama is if conflict breaks out it'd change the geographical boundaries of the entire region , destroy France's influence & neo colonial empire & the icing on the cake - escalate the movement of refugees to Europe exponentially. The best part is practically all of them are peacefuls from Francophone Africa.

Europe especially France never forgets its history nor learns anything from it .

half of nuclear supplied to Europe was from Russia, France will be having difficulty getting uranium from them, excluding gas and grain France is going to go from sucking american to russian dick soon.