Nigeria

Aglow Leader: Olabisi (Bisi) Adeluyi
National Board President

Capital:  Abuja

In 2018, thousands of Christians were killed by Fulani herdsmen. In 2019, at least 120 people have been killed in reported Fulani terrorist attacks since February in the Kaduna state of Nigeria. The latest attack occurred on March 11, resulting in the deaths of 52 people, mostly women and children, and the destruction of more than 140 homes. A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been state imposed as there have been a string of recent attacks against communities within the predominantly Christian Adara chiefdom of southern Kaduna.

In late January, Boko Haram jihadists killed at least 60 people in an attack on the northeast Nigerian town of Rann. Hundreds of structures were burned in the attack.
Nigeria ranks as the 12th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA’s 2019 World Watch List.

Pray and Proclaim

• Declare that the Power of the Prince of Peace covers Nigeria, bringing comfort to those who have suffered such loss and bringing courage to those who are afraid.
• Drop spiritual bombs of peace and truth that stop attackers from killing and destroying their countrymen. Proclaim an invasion of the Truth of the Gospel to penetrate their hearts and set them free from this path of hatred and violence.
• Pray for wisdom as the government deals with this situation.
• Declare strength and courage to Nigeria Aglow and other Christians in the nation. Lord, fill our Nigerian brothers and sisters with unshakable confidence in You. Release a great Kingdom harvest in this time of trouble. Protect them and demonstrate Your miraculous power and love to them.
• Let Your healing Presence be known in Nigeria. If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. – II Chronicles 7:13-16

Interesting Facts About Nigeria

Background: In ancient and pre-colonial times, the area of present-day Nigeria was occupied by a great diversity of ethnic groups with very different languages and traditions. British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africa’s most populous country grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy. After independence in 1960, politics were marked by coups and mostly military rule, until the death of a military head of state in 1998 allowed for a political transition. In 1999, a new constitution was adopted and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed.

The government continues to face the daunting task of institutionalizing democracy and reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through decades of corruption and mismanagement. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country’s history. National and state elections in 2011 and 2015 were generally regarded as credible. The 2015 election was also heralded for the fact that the then-umbrella opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, defeated the long-ruling People’s Democratic Party that had governed since 1999, and assumed the presidency, marking the first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another. Presidential and legislative elections were held in early 2019 and deemed broadly free and fair despite voting irregularities, intimidation, and violence.

Government Type: federal presidential republic

Population: 219,463,862 (July 2021 est.)

Ethnic Groups: Hausa 30%, Yoruba 15.5%, Igbo (Ibo) 15.2%, Fulani 6%, Tiv 2.4%, Kanuri/Beriberi 2.4%, Ibibio 1.8%, Ijaw/Izon 1.8%, other 24.7% (2018 est.)

Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages

Religions: Muslim 53.5%, Roman Catholic 10.6%, other Christian 35.3%, other .6% (2018 est.)

Interesting Facts information from the cia.gov website.  Read more about Nigeria