Ayoub mzee with Gordon Brown former British Prime MinisterXMASS AND END OF YEAR DIPLOMATS PARTY AT THE NIGERIA HIGH COMMISSION -UK
The work of the Nigeria High Commission is to co-ordinate, promote and protect the national interests of Nigeria within the United Kingdom in ways that contribute to the enhancement of Nigeria's security and socio-economic prosperity.
OPENING HOURS: Mondays - Fridays
(Except Nigerian and UK Public/Bank Holidays)
A) OFFICIAL OPENING HOURS: 9.30am - 5.30pm
B) IMMIGRATION AND CONSULAR SECTIONS:
i) Submission of all Applications: 9.30 - 1.00pm
ii) Collection of Visas: 3.30pm - 4.30pm
iii) Collection of Passports: 10.00am - 1.00pm
C) OTHER VISITS TO THE HIGH COMMISSION IS STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENTS.
In Nigeria, culture is manifested in art, dance, language, literature, folklore, mores, music, governance, and even the environment. According to archaeological findings, Nigeria's artifacts depicting the early life of the people date back to 2000 years
Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation. Oil accounts for about 25 percent of GDP, over 90 percent of exports, and over 80 percent of government revenue despite violence in the Delta region that disrupts production
The largely subsistence agricultural sector has not kept up with rapid population growth. Nigeria, once a large net exporter, now imports food though the Administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has introduced far-reaching policy initiatives to reverse this trend and attain national food self-sufficiency. Based on GNP per capita, Nigeria is among the world's 20 poorest countries. Economic growth since the early 1970's has been erratic, driven primarily by the fluctuations of the global oil market. During the 1980's and 1990's Nigeria faced growing economic decline and falling living standards, a reflection also of political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management (most notably the failure to diversify the economy).
Fundamental economic reforms were introduced by the Administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo which resulted in a stable macro-economic environment, including debt relief. A major debt deal led to massive reduction in Nigeria's debt from over US$36 billion in 2004 to a mere US$3.6 billion in 2008. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has intensified economic reforms on the basis of the foundation laid by his predecessor. Between 2004-2008, the country's GDP grew two-fold to $209.5 billion and at an impressive rate of 7%. This was the best performance for many years, above the regional average of 6%.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing
This sector has suffered a relative decline because of the dominance of oil in the economy, but it still accounts for 33% of GDP (2005) and provides employment, both formal and informal, for a large majority of the population. Attempts to revive agriculture have been largely unsuccessful. Although Nigeria previously had a strong export sector, the range and quantity of products has declined sharply: in the early 1990's only cocoa and some rubber and palm products were being exported. Cash crops include cocoa, rubber (nearly all exported), coffee, cotton and palm kernels. The palm oil sector, which was a foreign exchange earner in the 1970's, is being redeveloped.
Agriculture is still dominated by traditional smallholders raising subsistence crops such as sorghum, maize, cassava, yams, millet, rice and increasing quantities of wheat (up to 70% of which is for their own consumption). Arable potential has been put at 25% of total area, of which about 12% is cultivated
Plantations and commercial agriculture sometimes owned by, or in partnership with, multinational corporations, are gaining ground in producing good crops and raw materials for company use (e.g. grain for breweries). Irrigation schemes, higher producer prices, the expansion of credit and improvements in the rural infrastructure are beginning to show results. Livestock farming is important, and poultry farming is rapidly increasing.
The industrial sector contributed 4.8% to GDP in 1998 and employed 8 % of the workforce. Emphasis has shifted towards more low-cost, integrated, high value-added industries which rely on local rather than imported raw materials and capital goods, and on shifting production away from Lagos. Although it has benefited since 1985 from lower exchange rates, industry is still vulnerable because of the high proportion of imports among its inputs. Manufacturing is dominated by light consumer goods and is oriented towards import substitution. The adverse general situation in the country and low demand has pushed the estimated capacity utilization rate below 30%. Beverages, textiles, cigarettes, food processing and soaps continue to account for over 60 % of total manufacturing output.
Nigeria used to be one of the largest producers of tin in the world, with production based around the highland district of Jos. Production collapsed from an average of 10,000 tonnes per year in the 1970's to 300 tonnes in 1995. Tin reserves are estimated at 16,000 tonnes. Independent estimates place iron ore reserves at 800 million tonnes, averaging 37 % metal content. Iron ore mining began in 1984 and 1989 reported a stockpile of over 500,000 tonnes. By 1997, it was unlikely that iron output was more than 50,000 tonnes per year. Iron ore deposits are being exploited with the long-term aim of supplying the requirements of the national steel industry. Deposits of uranium, lead, zinc, tungsten and gold are not yet exploited. There are 65 sites in Nigeria where gold has been located. By mid-1999, field appraisals had recommended nine as being ready for exploitation
Pizza Hut resolve Bournemouth footballer disputeThe following is an agreed joint statement from Pizza Hut UK and Operation Black Vote.Pizza Hut statement:“Following a recent incident, we want to reiterate that we strongly oppose any form of stereotyping and we have reminded staff at all of our restaurants to use our standard policy of asking for payment after the meal.With a diverse workforce and a customer base which spans all demographics we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and as such, we were pleased to meet today with Operation Black Vote, one of the UK’s leading organisations for the promotion of equality, and will maintain an open dialogue going forward.”Operation Black Vote statement:"Today Pizza Hut has recognised that the actions of one of its restaurants of asking some customers to pay before eating led staff to make judgments about customers. These judgments could be based on stereotypes. Pizza Hut bosses have reiterated that they do not accept any form of stereotyping within their business and have therefore ordered all restaurants not to undertake asking customers to pay before eating.Pizza Hut has again apologised to the players for inadvertently causing them some distress and will make a contribution to a charity of the player’s choice."Simon Woolley of Operation Black Vote stated:"The football players can now find closure and get on with what they do best: playing good football. Pizza Hut have demonstrated that a good employer can deal with these problems with honesty and integrity. Moreover, they learn from their mistakes and come out even stronger."-- Ashok Viswanathan, Deputy DirectorOperation Black Vote, 18A Victoria Park Sq, London E2 9PB020 8983 5430 http://uk.mc295.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ashok@obv.org.ukhttp://operationblackvote.wordpress.com/ http://www.obv.org.uk/
The work of the Nigeria High Commission is to co-ordinate, promote and protect the national interests of Nigeria within the United Kingdom in ways that contribute to the enhancement of Nigeria's security and socio-economic prosperity.
OPENING HOURS: Mondays - Fridays
(Except Nigerian and UK Public/Bank Holidays)
A) OFFICIAL OPENING HOURS: 9.30am - 5.30pm
B) IMMIGRATION AND CONSULAR SECTIONS:
i) Submission of all Applications: 9.30 - 1.00pm
ii) Collection of Visas: 3.30pm - 4.30pm
iii) Collection of Passports: 10.00am - 1.00pm
C) OTHER VISITS TO THE HIGH COMMISSION IS STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENTS.
In Nigeria, culture is manifested in art, dance, language, literature, folklore, mores, music, governance, and even the environment. According to archaeological findings, Nigeria's artifacts depicting the early life of the people date back to 2000 years
Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation. Oil accounts for about 25 percent of GDP, over 90 percent of exports, and over 80 percent of government revenue despite violence in the Delta region that disrupts production
The largely subsistence agricultural sector has not kept up with rapid population growth. Nigeria, once a large net exporter, now imports food though the Administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has introduced far-reaching policy initiatives to reverse this trend and attain national food self-sufficiency. Based on GNP per capita, Nigeria is among the world's 20 poorest countries. Economic growth since the early 1970's has been erratic, driven primarily by the fluctuations of the global oil market. During the 1980's and 1990's Nigeria faced growing economic decline and falling living standards, a reflection also of political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management (most notably the failure to diversify the economy).
Fundamental economic reforms were introduced by the Administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo which resulted in a stable macro-economic environment, including debt relief. A major debt deal led to massive reduction in Nigeria's debt from over US$36 billion in 2004 to a mere US$3.6 billion in 2008. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has intensified economic reforms on the basis of the foundation laid by his predecessor. Between 2004-2008, the country's GDP grew two-fold to $209.5 billion and at an impressive rate of 7%. This was the best performance for many years, above the regional average of 6%.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing
This sector has suffered a relative decline because of the dominance of oil in the economy, but it still accounts for 33% of GDP (2005) and provides employment, both formal and informal, for a large majority of the population. Attempts to revive agriculture have been largely unsuccessful. Although Nigeria previously had a strong export sector, the range and quantity of products has declined sharply: in the early 1990's only cocoa and some rubber and palm products were being exported. Cash crops include cocoa, rubber (nearly all exported), coffee, cotton and palm kernels. The palm oil sector, which was a foreign exchange earner in the 1970's, is being redeveloped.
Agriculture is still dominated by traditional smallholders raising subsistence crops such as sorghum, maize, cassava, yams, millet, rice and increasing quantities of wheat (up to 70% of which is for their own consumption). Arable potential has been put at 25% of total area, of which about 12% is cultivated
Plantations and commercial agriculture sometimes owned by, or in partnership with, multinational corporations, are gaining ground in producing good crops and raw materials for company use (e.g. grain for breweries). Irrigation schemes, higher producer prices, the expansion of credit and improvements in the rural infrastructure are beginning to show results. Livestock farming is important, and poultry farming is rapidly increasing.
The industrial sector contributed 4.8% to GDP in 1998 and employed 8 % of the workforce. Emphasis has shifted towards more low-cost, integrated, high value-added industries which rely on local rather than imported raw materials and capital goods, and on shifting production away from Lagos. Although it has benefited since 1985 from lower exchange rates, industry is still vulnerable because of the high proportion of imports among its inputs. Manufacturing is dominated by light consumer goods and is oriented towards import substitution. The adverse general situation in the country and low demand has pushed the estimated capacity utilization rate below 30%. Beverages, textiles, cigarettes, food processing and soaps continue to account for over 60 % of total manufacturing output.
Nigeria used to be one of the largest producers of tin in the world, with production based around the highland district of Jos. Production collapsed from an average of 10,000 tonnes per year in the 1970's to 300 tonnes in 1995. Tin reserves are estimated at 16,000 tonnes. Independent estimates place iron ore reserves at 800 million tonnes, averaging 37 % metal content. Iron ore mining began in 1984 and 1989 reported a stockpile of over 500,000 tonnes. By 1997, it was unlikely that iron output was more than 50,000 tonnes per year. Iron ore deposits are being exploited with the long-term aim of supplying the requirements of the national steel industry. Deposits of uranium, lead, zinc, tungsten and gold are not yet exploited. There are 65 sites in Nigeria where gold has been located. By mid-1999, field appraisals had recommended nine as being ready for exploitation
