In the beginning Nigeria was controlled and influenced by the British through the 19th century; Nigeria finally earned its independence in 1960. Nigeria is the largest most populated country in Africa. After 16 years of military rule Nigeria’s independence came in 1960. Today Nigeria is by far Africa’s leader in economic power. Nigeria earned its independence from Great Britain on the first of October 1960. The constitution of Nigeria was not written until the May 5, 1999 and it was not effective until May 29th, 1999. Nigeria has a Federal Republic government system. Nigeria has mixed legal system made up of English common law and Islamic in 12 northern states and Traditional law. Nigeria’s Administrative divisions are broken up in 36 states and 1 territory. Nigeria has a bicameral legislative branch consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate has 109 seats each member holding the seat for four years, and the House of Representatives have 360 seats with each member also hold the seats for four years.
Nigeria has the world’s eighth largest population; according to ww.cia.gov Nigeria has approximately 174,507,539 as of July 2013. Nigeria is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups. The most prevalent being Hausa and Fulani making up 29% of the population, followed closely behind by Yoruba 21%. Muslim is by far the most popular Religious choice; Christianity is a close second. Nigeria has an average life expectancy of 52 years; this is boosted mostly by the life expectancy of the women population who are expected to live for 55 years, while men are only expected to live 49 years. With Nigeria being one of the most populated countries in the world it no surprise that it has one of the world’s highest crime rates. Home invasion and armed robberies remain high on the crime ladder in Nigeria. Lagos and southern Nigeria are the center for most of Nigeria’s crime. Robberies are often carried out on tourist because they do not frequently filed reports with local law enforcement; the robbers usually get away with money and electronics. According to ww.osac.com many of the arm robberies are now taking place toward Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Nigeria is also a place where many pirates’ attacks happen. The Gulf of Guinea has increased over the past couple of years.
Nigeria economy is sustained and characterized by its large oil-rich even though it has been greatly hampered by instability and corruption. Nigeria has poor infrastructure and very poor Macroeconomic management. Nigeria has a labor force size of about 54 million workers according www.cia.gov.Nigeria. Industry represents 43% revenue followed by service and agricultural. Nigeria agricultural products include cocoa, peanuts, cotton, palm oil, corn,. Nigeria’s biggest export is by far oil. Nigeria industrial products include crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; rubber products, Nigeria export its products to China, US, and India among others. US is Nigeria largest export partner buying about 35% of all Brazil’s exported goods; America is followed closely by India which buys 9% of Nigeria exported goods. Surprisingly crude oil is Nigeria most abundant imported good followed by all types drilling platforms. Nigeria’s biggest import partner as you can guess is China at 19%, followed closely by the US at 10%.
Nigeria also has a very good political system. The law of Nigeria is based on the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and British common law (thanks to the long history of British colonial influence). The legal system is similar to common-law systems used in England and Wales and other Commonwealth countries. The constitutional framework for the legal system is provided by the Constitution of Nigeria. With that being said, there are four distinct systems of law in Nigeria: English Law, which is derived from its colonial past with Britain; Common law, (case law development since colonial independence); Customary law, which is derived from indigenous traditional norms and practices; Sharia law, used in the northern part of the country. The president is elected through universal suffrage. He or she is both the chief of state and head of government, heading the Federal Executive Council, or cabinet. The executive branch is divided into Federal Ministries, each headed by a minister appointed by the president. The president must include at least one member from each of the 36 states in his cabinet. The President's appointments are confirmed by the Senate of Nigeria. Each ministry also has a Permanent Secretary, who is a senior civil servant. The National Assembly of Nigeria has two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is presided over by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It has 360 members, who are elected for four-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The Senate, which has 109 members, is presided over by the President of the Senate. 108 members are elected for four-year terms in 36 three-seat constituencies, which correspond to the country's 36 states. One member is elected in the single-seat constituency of the federal capital. The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Court of Appeals, the High Courts, and other trial courts such as the Magistrates', Customary, Sharia and other specialized courts. The National Judicial Council serves as an independent executive body, insulating the judiciary from the executive arm of government. The Supreme Court is presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and thirteen associate justices, who are appointed by the President of Nigeria on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council. These justices are subject to confirmation by the Senate. Nigeria’s current constitution, the fourth since independence, went into effect on May 29, 1999. Modeled after the U.S. Constitution, it provides for a separation of powers among a strong executive, an elected legislature, and an independent judiciary. Critics of the constitution complain that the federal government retains too much power at the expense of the states. Although the constitution proclaims personal freedom and a secular state, it also permits Muslims to follow sharia, or Islamic law. Nigeria also has a very good mass media area. The government controls and regulates most of Nigeria’s broadcast media through the National Broadcasting Commission. Radio is the most important mass medium for reaching general audiences because it is inexpensive and does not require literacy. The federal government owns stations affiliated with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, individual states control other stations, and still others are privately owned. The Voice of Nigeria broadcasts in Arabic, English, French, and five indigenous languages. Some Voice of Nigeria broadcasts are aimed at domestic audiences; others, primarily shortwave, are transmitted around the globe. Similar to the market for radio broadcasts, the federal government owns two stations affiliated with the National Television Authority, various states have their own stations, and private operators broadcast by satellite. Nigerians also obtain news via Voice of America, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), and Deutsche Welle. In contrast to the broadcast media, the print media are dominated by private publications, a situation that is more amenable to criticism of the government. Nigeria has 14 major daily newspapers, but only one—the New Nigerian—is government-owned. The country also has six newsweeklies and various tabloids. The government does not restrict access to the Internet, which is most widely available at cybercafés. The military of Nigeria has played a major role in the country's history, often seizing control of the country and ruling it for long periods of time. Its last period of rule ended in 1999, following the death of the leader of the previous military Junta Sani Abacha in 1998. Active duty personnel in the three Nigerian armed services total approximately 76,000. The Nigerian Army, the largest of the services, has about 60,000 personnel, deployed between two mechanized infantry divisions, one composite division (airborne and amphibious), the Lagos Garrison Command (a division-size unit), and the Abuja-based Brigade of Guards. It has demonstrated its capability to mobilize, deploy, and sustain battalions in support of peacekeeping operations in Liberia, the former Yugoslavia, Angola, Rwanda, Somalia, and Sierra Leone. The Nigerian Navy (7,000) is equipped with frigates, fast attack craft, Corvettes, and coastal patrol boats. The Nigerian Air Force (9,000) flies transports, trainers, helicopters, and fighter aircraft; however, most of their vehicles are currently not operational. After the imposition of sanctions by many Western nations, Nigeria turned to the People's Republic of China, Russia, North Korea, and India for the purchase of military equipment and training. It can be safely assumed that democracy returned to Nigeria after the death of that military dictator, General Sanni Abacha. The return of democracy started in 1999 after the often forgotten character named General Abdusallam Abubakar terminated the 16 army rule that featured General Buhari, General Babangida and General Abacha. Thus, the Nigerian democratic experiment started in 1999 under the 1999 Constitution (as now amended).
Nigeria’s current push towards its new industrial policy is based on a guided de-regulation of the economy and the Government’s break from all activities which are focused on the private-sector. This means the government will have to assist by concentrating on the provision of incentives, policy, and infrastructure necessary to allow the private sector to push the growth of the nation’s economy. The industrial policy is intended to several things. The policy is intended to generate productive employment and raise productivity, increase export of locally manufactured goods, create a wider range of industries, improve the technological skills and capability available in the country, increase the local content of industrial output by looking inward for the supply of basic and intermediate inputs, attract direct foreign capital, and increase private sector participation.
Among other policy objectives, the de-regulation of the exchange control regime is designed to facilitate and enhance trading activities. Items on the import prohibition list have been substantially reduced, with government opting to utilize tariff structures to protect end-user product pricing of local industries and discourage frivolous imports.
Nigeria's economic legal system is focused on English common law, the rule of law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional Nigerian law. The rule of law is central to the development of any economy; for an emerging economy like Nigeria, lawyers have a crucial role to play in maintaining the rule of law and ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are enjoyed by all.

Sources 1. www.cia.gov 2. www.osac.gov 3. http://atlas.media.mit.edu