Newspapers in Nigeria
According to ARISTMARKETING.COM, Nigeria is a country located in Africa. The distribution of daily newspapers in Nigeria is relatively small (24 newspaper excl. Per 1,000 residents, 2000). There are twenty-five daily newspapers, and the press debate has at times been relatively lively. The largest newspapers are the partially government-owned Daily Times (circulation: about 400,000 copies), National Concord (200,000 copies) and Nigerian Observer (about 150,000 copies). In addition, there is an extensive magazine press. Government-critical media appeared under severe pressure during the 1990s, abusive journalists have been imprisoned and newspapers have been banned periodically.
The state radio company Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), founded in 1978, broadcasts in five different zones in English and fifteen native languages. There are also commercial radio stations. Television is controlled by the State Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). Each state has its own radio and TV stations, which are controlled by the regime. By 1993, 14 companies had been licensed to operate private television stations. There are 200 radio and 68 TV receivers per 1,000 residents (2000).
Culture
According to APARENTINGBLOG, Nigeria is known for masks and other carvings in wood and ivory. The country’s various ethnic groups have oral traditions of poems, songs and fairy tales. As far as English-language literature is concerned, Nigeria, alongside South Africa, is the leader in Africa.
The oldest works of art found in the country are terracotta heads from the Late Stone Age, which have been associated with the nok culture (see Older history). In Nife in Yorubaland, exquisite sculptures in terracotta and bronze were made from the 800 to the 1100s, and the sculpture art was further developed at the Benin court in the 16th and 16th centuries.
In Hausaland in the north, poetry in Arabic has been written since the 15th century. In the early 19th century, writing began in Hausa, first in Arabic, later in Latin.
Nigeria’s first university was founded in 1949 in Ibadan, in the heart of Yorubaland, and black Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in literature, Wole Soyinka, belongs to the Yoruba people. Soyinka, who received the award in 1986, has been especially active as a playwright. Of his novels, several have been translated into Swedish, as well as the poetry collection Ogun’s shadow. Soyinka also emerged as a critic of the Nigerian military regimes (see Modern History). He has worked to raise public opinion against “anti-democratic tendencies” in Nigeria and in 2010 he formed a political party (see Calendar).
When Soyinka debuted in the 1950s, another Yoruba, Amos Tutuola, had already gained notoriety with his peculiar story The Palm Wind Drinker. It was written in African English in 1952 and is linked to oral storytelling tradition.
During the period of independence in 1960 and up to the Biafra War 1967-1970, the Nigerian literature exploded. Among several brilliant Igbo writers is Chinua Achebe (1930–2013). Already in 1958 he portrayed the meeting between Igbo culture and European lifestyle in the turn of the last century Africa in the novel Everything breaks down.
Ben Okri, now living in London, belongs to a younger generation. In the early 1990s, he broke through with the novel The Insatiable Road. Okris’s father came from Urhobo, one of the small people groups in the Niger Delta in the south, while the mother was an igbo. A political writer was Ken Saro-Wiwa, who became the spokesman for the Ogoni people in the Niger Delta before the then military regime executed him in 1995 (see Modern History).
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, born in 1977 in southeastern Nigeria, was awarded with her debut novel Lila Hibiscus in 2003. She has also won awards for A Half Yellow Sun (2006) depicting the Biafra War, and Americanah (2013). She is seen as an heir to the great Nigerian writer of the 1960s. American-Nigerian author Teju Cole was awarded for his debut novel Open City (2012), which takes place largely in New York but also in Nigeria.
The composer, saxophonist and singer Fela Kuti (1938–1997) won international reputation in the 1970s and 1980s with his jazz-influenced music style afro-beat. Fela Kuti, who was a Yoruba and Pan-Africanist, also criticized Nigeria’s military regime.
Nigeria’s film industry, jokingly called “Nollywood”, produces more films than Hollywood and is an important part of the service sector in the country. Many films are also sold to other African countries. More than half of the films are recorded in local languages, the rest in English. Production costs are kept low by all films being made on video.
2016
December
“Boko Haram is left”
December 29
In a video recording, the notorious Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau says that the terrosect was not driven away from the Sambisa forest at all, something Buhari claimed on Christmas Eve. Shekau addresses the president directly: “You shouldn’t lie.”
Worst humanitarian crisis in Africa
December 28
The hunger disaster in northeastern Nigeria is now the worst on the continent, according to the UN. Around 100,000 people, most children, are dying of starvation. 400,000 children risk acute malnutrition.
Many dead in attacks against market
December 9
At least 56 people are killed and over 170 injured when two women burst into a crowded marketplace in Madagali, in the state of Adamawa. According to some descriptions, the perpetrators were school girls.
November
“Security forces kill separatists”
November 24
Amnesty International is suing security forces for killing at least 150 Biafra activists and injuring hundreds since August 2015, in connection with the protests. At least 60 people died in connection with Memorial Day in May, according to the report, which is based on video recordings, photographs and eyewitness accounts. The overwhelming tension is increasing tensions in southeastern Nigeria, the human rights organization notes. The army rejects the information.
New attack strikes against oil production
November 15
The NDA rebel group in the Niger Delta takes on an attack which, according to the group, means that oil production is reduced by 300,000 barrels a day. The attack is a vengeance for the government to continue harassing people in the area, it says. The conditional ceasefire since August has otherwise led to an increase in production; On November 1, the Ministry of Petroleum reported that production was back at 2.1 million barrels per day. This is almost normal (see May 2016).
Many dead when police strike Shiites
November 14
At least ten people are killed and several injured when police open fire on Irano-believing Shia Muslims in Kano. The violence erupts when members of the IMN (see December 2015) try to train from Kano to Zaria in the state of Kaduna, where the group is banned, in connection with the ashura mourning holiday. Several violent clashes have taken place over the past year between Shiites and Sunnis.
October
Raids against judges
Authorities raid seven high-ranking judges suspected of corruption and abuse of power. Among those who get their homes crawled, there are two judges in the Supreme Court. The police are reported to have seized large sums of cash in the strike, which some lawyers believe is law-abiding.
September
Buhari appeals for relief
September 23
The President appeals in a speech at the UN General Assembly on aid from the outside world to cope with the growing humanitarian crisis that Boko Haram has triggered in Nigeria.
Oil pipeline attacks
September 19
The militant group NDGJM takes on an attack on an oil pipeline in the state of Delta, the other in less than a week. The NDGJM is believed to have stepped up its activity since the rival NDA announced a ceasefire and entered into negotiations with the government (see August 2016).
Violence in September
September 20
Despite the military claiming to have the upper hand, Boko Haram’s assaults on civilians continue mainly in the state of Borno. At one point, eight people were killed outside a church, by perpetrators on a bicycle. On another occasion, six civilians die in an attack on a military card transport. Three soldiers are also injured.
August
The economy in recession
August 31st
Nigeria is formally confirmed to be in a recession as growth has been negative two quarters in a row. During the second quarter of the year, the economy shrank by 2.06 percent. The reason is the low oil prices on the world market. At the same time, the government states that growth is good in the agricultural and mining sectors.
Boko Haram leaders reportedly killed
August 23rd
The military claims to have killed several commanders in the Islamist sector and seriously wounded the disputed leader Abubakar Shekau, in a plane attack in the Zambian Forest in Borno on August 19.
NDA announces conditional ceasefire
20th of August
The NDA rebel group in the Niger Delta is said to have agreed to talks with the government. Meanwhile, the NDA abstains from attacks, as long as the “government party” abstains from harassment of innocent civilians, it states. Just days earlier, the NDA has accused President Buhari of inciting divisions in the country.
Vaccination campaign against polio
August 15th
The World Health Organization WHO and the UN Children’s Fund Unicef agree to vaccinate around 5 million children in four states in Nigeria, after two new cases of the disease were discovered. See also Social conditions.
“Nigeria poor”
August 11th
President Buhari says in a speech that Nigeria has suddenly become a poor country. He notes that the price of oil has fallen from $ 100 a barrel to $ 37, and is now between $ 40 and $ 45. The falling oil revenues mean that the country is now entering a recession. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has just concluded that South Africa has once again gone over Nigeria as Africa’s largest economy. Angola has become the continent’s largest oil producer.
Conflicting Boko Haram leader
August 3rd
IS presents Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the new leader of the Islamist sect. Shortly thereafter, however, Abubakar Shekau appears in a video recording in which he claims that he is still a leader. It is the first time in a year that a sign of life comes from Shekau. Barnawi, who previously was spokesman for Boko Haram, is relatively unknown, but later comes information that he is a 22-year-old son of founder Mohammed Yusuf (see Modern History).
Cash payments are resumed in the Niger Delta
1 August
The state is starting to pay cash to militant groups again, in an attempt to halt the new attacks that have hit hard on oil production. The most recent payments were made in February.
July
Military can be deployed in the Niger Delta
July 29
The army is ready to deploy soldiers in the delta where the NDA guerrillas conducted repeated attacks during the year. Local leaders warn that it could have serious consequences for the civilian population. No major military operations have been carried out in the area since 2009.
Boko Haram is driven out of Damasak
July 29
The regional force fighting Islamists and the Nigerian military is driving the rebels out of the city (see also April 2015).
Alarm on humanitarian crisis
July 27
The UN warns of the threat of a humanitarian disaster in Nigeria and the area around Lake Chad. Over 2.8 million people have been displaced from their homes in the region and over 9 million – of which 7 million in Nigeria – suffer acute food shortages. The UN has compared the situation with the crisis in Darfur in Sudan, as well as in South Sudan. According to Unicef, 250,000 children in Borno suffer from acute malnutrition. Doctors without the limit state that between 500,000 and 800,000 people cannot be reached by emergency workers. The organization raised an alarm in June that nearly 200 people who had fled Boko Haram have been starved to death, and that the situation is acute in a camp with 24,000 people. Every fifth child in the camp suffers from severe malnutrition and many are also severely traumatized.
New attacks in the Niger Delta
July 3
The rebel group NDA takes on five attacks on oil and gas plants and has thus resumed its sabotage after a break. The NDA demands a greater share of revenues and increased political self-government. The attacks have led to reduced oil production.
June
Multi-billion deal with China
June 30th
The government announces that an agreement worth $ 80 billion has been signed with Chinese companies to renovate the country’s worn-out oil refineries and other infrastructure in the oil and gas sector. However, the rising unrest in the Niger Delta may hinder some of the investment.
Corruption charges against the previous government
June 28
Ex-President Jonathan’s campaign spokesman Femi Fani-Kayode and former Finance Minister Nenadi Esther Usman are accused of stealing the equivalent of $ 5.3 million in state funds to use them for “political and private” purposes. Former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki is charged with similar crimes, as is a cousin to Jonathan. The ex-president himself has not been singled out by the anti-corruption agency EFCC.
Floating currency
June 20
The central bank faces a floating exchange rate, whereupon the naira collapses by 40 percent. Nairan has been linked to the dollar since March 2015, which has meant it was clearly overvalued.
Deadly Boko Haram attack
17th of June
About 20 people are killed when Islamists open fire to participants in a grief ceremony following a deceased local leader in northeastern Nigeria. The attack takes place in a village near the city of Gulak recently liberated from Boko Haram. It is the second attack in a short time in northeastern Nigeria, where it has been relatively calm since the turn of the year.
New rebel group threatens
6th June
The group that calls itself the Niger Delta Joint Liberation Force (JNDLF) says it is planning extensive attacks around the country against “all infrastructure built with our oil and gas money”. On a long list of targets there are government buildings, NNPC’s facilities and the military. With its statement, JNDLF adopts a significantly more militant line than the NDA (see May 2016).
Big Boko Haram attack in Niger
June 3
More than 100 rebels cross the border and occupy a military base in Bosso, southern Niger. Over 30 soldiers are killed and up to 70 injured before the rebels retreat across the border to Nigeria. In the state of Borno, Nigeria, the army is reported to have killed 19 Boko Haram members in a battle in which two government soldiers were also wounded.
May
Deadly violence when war outbreaks are celebrated
30 May
At least ten people were killed in riots in connection with a ceremony commemorating the Biafra War that broke out in 1967 and lasted until 1970. Police say they responded to the fire from members of the Ipob group (see December 2015). A spokesman for Ipob denies that the group’s members opened fire, claiming that at least 35 members were killed by police. Amnesty International reports after an investigation into the incident that the military shot at unarmed civilians and at least 17 were killed. Violence occurred in several places.
Amnesty is extended
May 29th
Buhari promises in a speech in conjunction with his celebrating a year in the presidential post to retain the disputed amnesty program for the Niger Delta. The promise seems to be a turnaround compared to the previous information that that program would end in 2018.
Attacks cause water shortages
24th of May
The water is shut off in the multi-million city of Lagos as the pumping stations are without electricity due to gas shortages caused by renewed attacks on pipelines in the Niger Delta. Oil production has dropped to 1.4 million barrels a day, instead of the 2.2 million barrels a day planned.
Ex-rebels condemn violence
May 22
Former members of Mend, in a written statement, distance themselves from the new rebels who have taken on attacks in the Niger Delta, saying that they do not intend to resort to violence again. President Buhari “deserves more time to stabilize the country,” it says. Most of the new attacks have been carried out by a group called the Niger Delta’s Avengers (NDA).
Strengthened security in the Niger Delta
May 20
Buhari orders strengthened monitoring in Delta’s marshlands, following attacks on several pipelines and other facilities belonging to Shell, Chevron and Agip, among others. The attacks pose a threat to the state’s economy, the president notes.
Chibok girls found
May 19th
Two of the 219 schoolgirls missing since April 2014 are found within a couple of days. These are the first of the girls found. One of them, a now 19-year-old woman with an infant, was found by a citizen group while looking for firewood in the forest. The second girl was part of a group of 97 women and girls rescued by the military. 35 Boko Haram members must have been killed in connection with the exemption, and large arms and ammunition were seized.
Strike despite court order
May 18
NLC is moving ahead with plans to announce a strike against the fuel price increase, despite an industrial court saying it must not be initiated because of the risk of social disruption. The smaller central organization TUC blows its strike plans at the court’s notice.
Substantial increase in fuel prices
May 11
The gasoline price is increased by two-thirds to the equivalent of about SEK 6 in an attempt to remedy the fuel shortage. On the black market, gasoline already costs considerably more. The national organization NLC calls the increase “criminal” (see also January 2012 and Natural Resources, Energy and Environment).
April
The United States promises extra money in humanitarian aid
April 20
The United States promises $ 40 million to help the people of the countries affected by Boko Haram’s violence.
Video with Chibok girls
April 14
The government has received a video recording, of all judgments made in December, where 15 girls appear who say they have been kidnapped in Chibok. Some of them have been identified by their parents. These are the first images published since shortly after its abduction in April 2014.
The Senate President is on trial
April 5
A lawsuit is initiated against Senate Speaker Bukola Saraki at a special court where he was indicted for false declaration during his tenure as state governor 2003–2011.
March
Hundreds of charges for false contracts
24th of March
Prosecutors are prosecuting over 300 companies and individuals who are suspected of swindling the equivalent of hundreds of millions of dollars on fake contracts on defense equipment. Most contracts are linked to former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki, who was laid off in July 2015. Among the defendants are both retired and active senior officers.
Hundreds liberated from Boko Haram
March 22
The army states that it exempted 829 people who were held captive by Boko Haram in twelve villages in the northeastern part of the country. According to the army, 25 Islamists are killed in raids against the villages.
February
Ghost workers fired
February 28
The Ministry of Finance announces that more than 20,000 “ghost workers” have been dismissed from state companies and authorities. According to the ministry, the state will save around SEK 90 million in 2016 by removing these non-existent persons who were only on the payrolls.
Billion pledge to fight terrorists
February 1st
A number of donor countries pledge a total of about $ 250 million, equivalent to just over SEK 2 billion, to the fight against extremist movement Boko Haram. Most money promises Nigeria itself, the worst affected country, but money is also promised by the EU, UK and Switzerland, among others. The promises are made at the AU summit.
January
Massage on city dwellers
30th of January
At least 85 people are killed when Boko Haram attacks a village outside the city of Maiduguri in the northeast. The Islamists burn down the village and flee the residents.
Billion credit revealed
January 19
In connection with the government launching a campaign for increased vigilance against corruption, Information Minister Lal Mohammed says that 55 people stole the equivalent of US $ 6.8 billion from the Treasury between 2006 and 2013. Among the thieves were ministers, state governors, civil service officials, bank employees and businessmen.
