The World Today

Federal Republic of NigeriaPopulation: 140,000,000 (2006 Census), 170,000,000 (2012 estimate), GDP per Capita:$1,725.00, Official language: English, Capital: Abuja, Largest City: Lagos, Area: 923,768 km2, Independence: From UK, 1 October 1960

Coastal waters Up to half of the total catch in West African waters is caught illegally.In Liberia, over 40 industrial fishing vessels have been investigated for illegal fishing since 2011.In Sierra Leone, 252 incidences of illegal fishing by ten industrial vessels were reported over an 18-month period up to July 2012.Nine out of the ten of these vessels, filmed and photographed by the Environmental Justice Foundation, are accredited to export their catches to Europe.

Green is the colour of Guinea’s coastal region. With good soils and abundant rain, this region is suited for the production of the country’s staple, rice, as are the banks of the Niger and Milo Rivers and the forest region in the southeast.

Remittances sent home by Africans working abroad are a better basis for future development than international aid

After the 2012 military coup in Guinea-Bissau, the Nobel peace laureate and former President of East Timor was appointed UN Special Representative to help restore democracy. He tells Alan Philps how corrupt politicians and generals brought the country to its knees.

Kidnappings and killings have left the Syrian people with no journalists to relay their experiences.