◦ An overview of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
◦ Bilateral relations
An overview of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Historically, the name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River the main water basin flowing through the Country from North to South, together with the river Benue, running from west to join the Niger at the centre of the Country.
Nigeria gained its independence on the 1st of October 1960.
Nigeria shares its borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. In the south it is exposed on the Gulf of Guinea.
It currently comprises thirty-six States and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. The executive power is exercised by the President. The President presides as both Head of State and head of the national executive and is elected by popular vote to a maximum of two four-year terms. He is also the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.
The current President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who has been elected on the 16th of April 2011. He has originally succeeded H.E. Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to the office on the 6th of May 2010 after the latter passed away.
The legislative power is given to the National Assembly consisting of a Senate and of a House of Representatives. The Senate is a 109-seat body with three members from each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja; members are elected by popular vote to four-year terms. The House contains 360 seats and the number of seats per state is determined by population.
Each State has its own Government made up by a Governor and State Legislative Assemblies. There is a Minister responsible for the Federal Capital Territory.
In April 2011 there will be elections for the President of the Republic, for the National Assembly, for the State Governors and for the State Legislative Assemblies.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with an estimated population of 150 million inhabitants, and the eighth most populous country in the world.
There are an estimated 250 different ethnic groups in the Country. The three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa-Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba, but also many others stand out for their ancient costumes and traditions. Whereas English is the language common to all population, there are hundreds of local idioms currently spoken. The three main ones coincide with the afore-mentioned ethnic groups.
According to recent studies by the Washington based PewResearch Centre (http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf), Nigeria has a slight Muslim majority, basically concentrated in the northern part (around 50% of the total population). Christians are the majority in the southern part (48.2% of the total population, of which around 14% Catholics). There is a very small minority who practices traditional religion.
The economy of Nigeria is one of the fastest growing in the world, with projections of over 7% growth for next year made by the Government. The International Monetary Fund reckoned a growth of 9% in 2008 and of 8.3% in 2009. It is amongst the three largest economies of Africa and it is the largest exporter of oil, together with Angola, which averagely constitutes 40% of its GDP and 80% of the Federal budget.
Besides being member of the United Nations, Nigeria is a leading member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is part to the African Union and to the Commonwealth of Nations. Nigeria is also part to the International Criminal Court statute. It has signed several International treaties against trafficking in persons and on the respect of human rights.
Bilateral relations
The ties between Nigeria and Italy are rooted in decades of Italians establishing themselves and their companies in Nigeria and by Nigerians living and working in our Country.
Such tight relations are remarked by Italy’s continuous attention to the dynamics of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and by mutual high level visits. Among the most recent ones there is the participation of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Salamatu Hussein Suleiman at the High Level Round Table on Religious Freedom and Political Responsibility held in Rimini (Italy) last august.
The Minister of Transport, Mr. Yusuf Suleiman, and the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Ngeze, have led a delegation composed of high officials of the respective Ministry and of agencies and authorities with competences in those sectors to participate to a ministerial conference held in Rome last 8-9 November dedicated to the issue of Global Environment and Energy in the Transport Sector.
The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Franco Frattini, visited Abuja in February 2009. He had meetings with H.E. the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, with the Hon. Minister of Defence, with the Hon. Minister of Niger Delta and with the Hon. Minister for the Federal Capital Territory. He met also the President of ECOWAS. He eventually met with representatives of Italian entrepreneurs active in Nigeria.
The Italian National Antimafia Prosecutor, Dr. Pietro Grasso, visited Abuja on the 14-16 December 2010. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between NAPTIP and the Italian Antimafia Bureau. It provides for cooperation in combating trafficking in persons and laundering of proceeds from crimes committed by criminal and criminal associations, especially with a view of tackling the issue of transnational organized crime. On the 10th of February 2011, the Permanent Secretary of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs met in Rome the Secretary General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, met in Rome with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. H.E. Franco Frattini, on the 16th of May 2011 on the occasion of the ministerial Conference on Global Governance and the Reform of the Security Council organized upon initiative of the Italian Foreign Minister.
In 2005 Italy has written off 1.5 billion Euro of Nigerian public debt.
In June 2011 the bilateral Agreement on Immigration matters has entered into force.
Italian Diplomatic Network
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