| Total Area: |
|
923,768 sq. km
|
|
Population:
|
|
128,771,988 (est. July 2005)
|
Ethnicity:
|
|
Nigeria is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
|
| Language: |
|
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
|
| Religion: |
|
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, Indigenous Beliefs 10%
|
| Government Type: |
|
Republic transitioning from military to civilian rule
|
| Capital: |
|
Abuja
|
| Population Below Poverty Line: |
|
60% (2000)
|
|
 Since gaining independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria has known only one decade of an elected government. In 1999, Olusegun Obasanjo, who says he found Christ while in prison under the previous military dictator, was elected as president. Nigeria is a federation of somewhat autonomous states with greed and corruption running throughout all levels of authority.
Nigeria is strongly divided between Christian and Islam. Statistics differ whether there are more adherents to Islam or Christianity in the nation as a whole. Northern Nigeria is predominantly Muslim and several of the states have adopted Sharia law for all civil cases.
In areas controlled by Muslims, Christians frequently face opposition. Churches have been burned and Christians killed in riots. In February of 2005, the predominantly Christian village of Demsa, Adamawa in northern Nigeria was attacked. According to Compass Direct, thirty-six Christians were killed and their property destroyed. Around 3000 survivors fled to a neighboring state. Also, for the fourth time in five years, the Conquerors Chapel of the Word of Faith Ministries in Kaduna, Nigeria, was destroyed by fire on April 10, 2005. The attacks began after Sharia law was introduced in Kaduna State in 2000.
Prayer Requests
- Pray for peace and strength for Christians facing opposition from Muslims in Nigeria.
- Pray that Christians will demonstrate the love of Christ, in spite of the opposition that they face.
- Pray that one law, with equality for all, will govern the nation of Nigeria
|
