Nigeria Vocab

Coup D’etat

an overthrow of government by a small number of people

national assembly (orange)

nigeria’s bicameral legislature, comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate

rentier state (orange)

a state that relies on the export of oil or from the leasing of resources to foreign entities as a significant source of government revenue

structural adjustment program (orange)

requirements for receiving assistance from international leaders including the privatization of state-owned companies, reducing tariffs, and reducing subsidies for domestic industries

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) (orange)

a social movement founded by Ken Saro-Wiwa to nonviolently protest abuses by foreign oil companies in the Niger Delta

All Progressives Congress (APC)

major political party formed in 2013 as a merger of opposition parties

Boko Haram

A violent Islamist extremist group in northeastern Nigeria that opposes Western education

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

government agency created in 2003 to investigate and fight corruption, financial crimes, and money laundering

Economic Community of West African States

organization of 15 West African countries that promotes economic integration and cooperation

Economic Recovery and Growth Plan

government plan aimed at reducing dependence on oil, promoting diversification, and improving economic stability and growth

Federal Character Principle

aims to ensure equitable representation among the country's ethnic and regional groups

Fourth Republic

the current period of democratic rule in Nigeria

General Sani Abacha

military ruler who governed from 1993 to 1998

Hausa-Fulani

An ethnic group dominant in northern Nigeria with combined ethnic groups

Igbo

a large ethnic group from southeastern Nigeria

Independent National Electoral Commission

The official Nigerian body responsible for organizing and supervising elections

Ken Saro-Wiwa

A Nigerian writer and environmental activist who led protests against oil pollution in the Niger Delta

Majoritarian election

A type of election system in which a candidate must win a majority of the votes to be elected

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta

group that used violence and sabotage to demand greater control of oil resources and compensation for environmental damage in the Niger Delta

National Health Insurance Scheme

government program designed to provide affordable healthcare through health insurance coverage

National Judicial Council

A body that oversees the appointment and discipline of judges

National Social Investment Programmes

Federal government initiatives created to reduce poverty and support job creation

Niger Delta Avengers

A militant group that attacks oil facilities in the Niger Delta

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

The state-owned oil company that manages Nigeria’s petroleum industry

Nollywood

The nickname for Nigeria’s film industry

OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)

An international organization of oil-producing countries that coordinates petroleum policies and prices

People’s Democratic Party

main political party, which dominated government from 1999 to 2015

Prebendalism

officeholders exploit their positions for personal gain and distribute public resources

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Nigeria’s current president and founding member of the APC

President Goodluck Jonathan

2010 to 2015, a member of the PDP who focused on economic growth and anti-corruption reforms

President Muhammadu Buhari

2015 to 2023, a former military ruler and APC member who focused on anti-corruption, security, and economic reform

President Olusegun Obasanjo

Nigeria’s first president of the Fourth Republic who helped stabilize democracy after years of military rule

Sharia law

Islamic legal system based on the Quran and Hadith

Yoruba

main ethnic group, located mainly in the southwest, known for its strong urban culture