Nigeria is a country of focus for the Self-Regulation and Drink Driving initiatives of Global Actions on Harmful Drinking.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria, comprised of 36 states and a Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is located in West Africa and shares land borders with Niger Republic to the north, the Republic of Benin to the west, Chad and Cameroon to the east. The coast to the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the eighth most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of 140 million (National Population Commission, 2006) and a total land area of approximately 351,649 sq mi (910,771 sq km). The country had an estimated road to total land density of 212.13 in the year 2004 (International Road Federation, World Road Statistics).

The petroleum industry is central to the Nigerian economic profile. It is the 12th largest producer of petroleum products in the world. The industry accounts for almost 80% of the GDP share and above 90% of the total exports. Outside the petroleum sector, the Nigerian economy is highly amorphous and lacks basic infrastructure. The Nigerian economy is one of the most developed economies in Africa. According to United Nation (UN) classification, Nigeria is a middle-income nation with developed financial, communications, and transport sectors. It has the second largest stock exchange in the continent.

The country is ethnically diverse, comprised more than 250 different groups. One of the consequences of the ethnic diversity is the remarkable difference in cultures across the country. The topography of the landscape also varies across the country from the mangrove forests in the Niger Delta to the rain forest in the south and the savanna in the northern parts of the country. As a result of the cultural and ethnic variations in alcohol consumption practices, no single definition of harmful drinking or alcohol dependence exists that is uniformly applicable across the country. Therefore, any attempt to develop effective prevention and treatment approaches must consider the cultural expectations regarding alcohol consumption (for example, what constitutes heavy drinking) and its effects (for example, whether the drinker or the alcohol beverage is responsible for intoxicated behavior).

We will report progress regularly, so please visit this page again soon for ongoing updates on our efforts.