Word: nigerias
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...easy prescription for Africa's most populous nation. Its nearly 70 million people are divided into three major ethnic groups-the Yorubas, Hausas and Ibos-and some 250 tribal offshoots. To reduce the power of the dominant tribes, Gowon, who belongs to the small Anga tribe, split Nigeria's four federal regions into twelve states. He allows them to handle their internal affairs but intervenes discreetly to make sure all tribes are consulted on local government decisions. Although Gowon rose to power as strongman of an army coup eight years ago, he believes that "you must bring...
...Discoveries. Along with peace, Nigeria is also gaining a bit of prosperity. Oil was discovered in the Niger River delta in 1966, and production has reached 2,200,000 bbl. per day, roughly 25% as much as Saudi Arabia was producing before its cutbacks. Gowon has followed the example of the world's major oil exporting nations and announced a 77% increase in the posted price of Nigerian crude, making it $14.69 per bbl. The new price is expected to earn Nigeria some $7 billion this year. In addition, the government currently is mulling over offers, mostly from American...
With a per capita annual income estimated at $125, Nigeria needs all the oil and gas revenues it can get. But Gowon has no intention of rushing the oil bonanza. To husband reserves, he is limiting production increases to the 1% per month maximum he decided was prudent long before the energy crunch. Moreover, the oil revenues give Gowon a strong hand in keeping the twelve states in line. By doling out profits to all, he keeps a firm grip on the purse strings and the pattern of economic growth...
...rate of 20% a year-so fast, in fact, that the city is now considered almost ungovernable. Its open sewers and traffic jams are among the worst in the world. The chaos is so frustrating that Gowon recently threatened to move the federal capital to Kachia in central Nigeria...
...nation desperately short of political leadership, such a prospect does not strike many observers as likely. In fact, there already is a groundswell, particularly among the young, for Gowon to shed his uniform and stay on after 1976 as Nigeria's first civilian President in more than a decade...