USEFUL BUSINESS INFORMATION ON NIGERIA

1. Country Brief:

A. Introduction - Nigeria, one-third larger than Texas and the most populous country in Africa, is situated on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. Its neighbors are Benin, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. The lower course of the Niger River flows south through the western part of the country into the Gulf of Guinea. Swamps and mangrove forests border the southern coast; inland are hardwood forests.

B. Climate - Nigeria is generally hot all year round, with little variation between winter and summer. Seasons are defined as the wet season, from April to October, and the dry season, from November till March. The dry season witnesses the prevailing influences of the dry and dusty north-east winds. The wet season is particularly noticeable on the south-eastern coast, where annual rainfall reaches about 130 inches (330cm).

C. Geographical Area - 351,649 sq mi

D. Language - English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani, and more than 200 others

E. Currency With Exchange Rate - Nigeria Nairas (NGN)

1.0              NGN = 0.00794281 USD

F. Population - 131,859,731

G. Major Cities – Lagos, Kano, badan, Kaduna

2. Transportation:

A. Railway - 3,557 km (2002).

B. Road - 194,394 km; paved: 60,068 km (including 1,194 km of expressways); unpaved: 134,326 km (1999 est.).

C. Airports - 70 (2002).

D. Waterways - 8,575 km

E. Sea ports - Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri

3. Economy:

A. Major Manufacturing -

B. Major Export - $52.16 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber.

C. Major Import - $25.95 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals.

E. Major Industry - crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel, small commercial ship construction and repair

F. Trade balance –

4. Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Trade shows and Exhibitions in Nigeria:

Major Trade Associations

Chambers of Commerce

The Manager,
Business Service Unit,
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Commerce House,
1 Idowu Taylor Street,
Victoria Island,
P.O.Box 109, Lagos, Nigeria
Telephone: +234-1-2623665, 2613917, 7746617
Fax: +234-1-2623665-6
Email: inform@microcom.com.ng; inform@lagoschamber.com

Web: www.lagoschamber.com

Major Trade Shows

5. Useful links:

Nigerian Importers, Dealers of Japanese Used Cars, Construction Machinery & Auto Parts