-More than 150 million people (largest in Africa)

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-Major ports

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-Large river delta

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-Produces more oil than any other African country.​

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Nigeria

-Oil discovered in the 1950s

and became the focus of the country's economy.

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-​3 major ethnic groups fought for control of the country (and the oil).

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Ethnic Conflict

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-Rival ethnic groups replaced the government in a series of coups.

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-​Muslims adopted sharia law in the North, and Christians moved South.

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Here Come the Coups

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-Economy grew in 1970s with oil prices rising

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-People left the farms to work on cities, agriculture declined, and they had to import food to feed the people. ​

Challenges of Oil Wealth

-Oil production is concentrated here

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-Most people live in poverty​

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-Heavily polluted​

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Niger River Delta

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-Between 2007 - 2011, Nigeria was able to repay some debt to other countries after receiving loans.

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-Economic reforms were put in place.​

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-It will be a challenge to maintain these improvements while dealing with the internal conflicts. ​

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Repaying Debt