33 Countries of Origin’ Profiles

1 NIGERIA Produced by the University of Malta FAST FACTS: • Nigeria is a country in West Africa. It is not only large in area, but also Africa’s most populous country • English is Nigeria’s official language; however, due to the large population, there are many linguistic differences reflected in the 200-500 spoken languages and dialects • The majority of the population is Muslim and concentrates in the north of the country; the remainder is Christian and inhabits primarily the south. 5 – 10% of the population practice indigenoushreligious tra- ditions • Nigeria has witnessed numerous military coups and ethnic and religious tensions are rampant . In recent years, communal attacks led by the Islamic State-aligned Boko Haram have led to the death of thousands of civilians. The imposition of Sharia law in the north has caused many Christians to flee • Women and girls are worse off in the north, where poverty levels are very high • The maternal mortality rate is extremely high , due to poor childbirth services and lack of emergency obstetric care • Early marriage is widespread in northern Nigeria ; girls are often married off to older men, many of whom already have several wives • Many displaced women and girls have survived sexual and gender- based violence when fleeing the armed conflict • Many women and girls have been released from captivity under Boko Haram, where they suffered forced marriage, rape and other sexual and physical violence • ‘Boko Haram’ wives face stigma and isolation within the community • Lack of basic services in displacement sites exacerbates sexual exploitation of women , who often trade sex for food • Domestic violence has increased alongside displacement. Marital rape is not recognised by law in the north-east • An estimated 24.8% of women aged 15-49 undergo FGM