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Nigeria
Politics and Human Rights

• Africa Action (Africa Policy Information Center): Strategic Action Issue Area -- Nigeria, 1997- (Washington, DC)
  • Policy documents from the center and repostings from other sources.
  • 2003 Elections Briefing Paper
  • Nigeria: Civil Society on Elections (May 2003)
  
  
• Amnesty International on Nigeria--Profile & Updates (New York and Washington, DC)
  
  
• Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training (CEDDERT), Zaria, Nigeria
  The site offers general information about the centre and numerous articles by its scholarly members---including Prof. Yusufu Bala Usman of the Department of History, Ahmadu Bello University and Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, CEDDERT Director. "The Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training, is established to promote and advance scientific research and training for the purpose of providing immediate and long-term solutions to the problems of the democratic, community, and national, development of the people of Nigeria, the rest of Africa, and the African diaspora."
  
  
• CLO--Civil Liberties Organisation (Lagos, Nigeria)
  • Under re-construction as of September 2, 2008: "The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) is a non-governmental, non-partisan and voluntary Nigerian human rights league. Its purpose is the defence and expansion of the scope of human rights and the civil liberties of all residents in Nigeria. This pursued by the investigation of human rights abuses and the publication of reports on them, campaigns and the use of the law courts to seek redress for persons whose rights have been violated."
  
  
• Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative on Nigeria, 2002-2005 (New Delhi, India; London, UK; Accra, Ghana)
  CHRI reports and excerpts from Nigerian news media. "The CHRI is a non-partisan independent international non-governmental organisation. Human rights education and advocacy are at the core of all CHRI's activities, and the aims and ends of its reports and investigations."
  
  
• Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) (via Nigeria-Law.Org)
  • See also: 1999 Constitution (via NigeriaWorld.Com)
  
  
• Consulate General of Nigeria -- Nigeria House, New York
  
  
• Council on Foreign Relations on Nigeria since 2004 (New York)
  Political analysis reports on Nigeria from this American think tank.
  -- Includes Joint Statement on Nigeria's Recent Elections (May 17, 2007) by Richard Joseph, Peter Lewis, John N. Paden et al.; and, "Nigeria's Creaky Political System" (April 12, 2007).
  
  
• Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Abuja, NIgeria)
  The official website of this government anti-corruption and anti-terrorism agency, created in 2004, with speeches, full-length reports and other publications, current news, and press releases.
  
  
• Elections in Nigeria
  • African Elections Database: Nigeria: compilation of results of most recent elections and earlier. (Albert C. Nunley, via Tripod.Com, USA)
    
    
  • The Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (Abuja, Nigeria)
    The official government site for monitoring state and federal elections-- with brief information on political parties and individual presidential candidates, the electoral process, and results tabulated as reports become available.
    -- List of political parties in 2007
    
    
  • Transition Monitoring Group (Abuja, Nigeria)
    
    
  • Council on Foreign Relations--The Center for Preventive Action: Nigeria: elections and continuing challenges. (Online) by Robert I. Rotberg. CSR no. 27, April 2007...in PDF format. -- New York: CFR, 2007.
    --See all of the Council's web pages on Nigeria above.
    
    
  • European Union Election Assistance and Observation: EU Election Observation Mission to Nigeria 2007 (Europa--European Union On-Line, Brussels, Belgium)
    -- See also: EU Statements for April 2003 -and- May 2003
    
    
  • Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa. Sokoto State Official Web Site and Presidential Candidate in 2007.
  • Muhammadu Buhari for President of Nigeria 2007. All Nigeria Peoples Party candidate.
  • Fresh Democratic Party and Presidential Candidate Rev. Chris Okotie.
  • Orji Uzor Kalu for President 2007. Progressive People's Alliance candidate.
  • Peoples Mandate Party and Presidential Candidate Arthur Nwankwo.
  • Umaru Yar'Adua for President 2007. People's Democratic Party candidate.
  
  
• Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Washington, DC
  
  
• Essential Action: Boycott Shell - Free Nigeria (2001) (Washington, DC)
  As of June 2001, Essential Action withdrew its campaign on Nigeria. A campaign web site to pressure Shell Oil and the Nigerian government to recognize the human rights of the peoples of the oil-producing Niger Delta, with useful links to Nigerian Groups and List serve archives. See also, Shell Nigeria's PR website.
  
  
• Foreign Policy in Focus: "Alienation and militancy in the Niger Delta: a response to CSIS on petroleum, politics, and democracy in Nigeria." (July 2003) By Oronto Douglas, Von Kemedi, Ike Okonta, Michael Watts. -- Washington, DC : Institute for Policy Studies ; Silver City & Albuquerque, New Mexico: Interhemispheric Resource Center, 2003.
  
  
• Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (See Nigeria Direct below)
  -- See also: Nigerian State Websites
  
  
• Human Rights Watch on Nigeria (New York and
  Washington, DC)
  • All Nigeria reports and press releases, 1998--
    
    
  • "Politics as war: the human rights impact and causes of post-election violence in Rivers State, Nigeria." (March 2008) Human Rights Watch (Online); vol. 20, no. 2(A) 57 pages in HTML or PDF formats.
    
    
  • "Criminal politics: violence, 'godfathers' and corruption in Nigeria." (October 2007) Human Rights Watch (Online); vol. 19, no. 16(A). 125 pages in HTML or PDF formats.
    
  • "Chop Fine: The human rights impact of local government corruption and mismanagement in Rivers State, Nigeria" (January 2007) Human Rights Watch (Online); vol. 19, no. 2(A). 109 pages in HTML or PDF formats.
    
  • "'They Do Not Own This Place': government discrimination against 'non-indigenes' in Nigeria" (April 2006) Human Rights Watch (Online); vol. 18, no. 3(A). 66 pages in HTML or PDF formats.
  • "'Rest in Pieces': police and deaths in custody in Nigeria" (July 2005). Human Rights Watch (Online); vol. 17, no. 11(A) 76 pages in HTML or PDF formats.
  • "Rivers and blood: guns, oil and power in Nigeria's Rivers State" (February 2005). Human Rights Watch briefing paper. 23 p. In HTML or PDF.
  • "Political Shari'a"? Human rights and Islamic law in northern Nigeria (September 2004). Human Rights Watch report ; vol. 15, no. 9(A).
    113 p. PDF file.
  • Nigeria, 2002. In Human Rights Watch World Report 2003. (Online).
  • Nigeria: military revenge in Benue (April 2002)
  • Nigeria, 2001 In Human Rights Watch World Report 2002. (Online).
  • HRW Backgrounder: US President Clinton's Visit to Nigeria, August 26-28, 2000
  • Nigeria, 1999. In Human Rights Watch World Report 2000. (Online).
  • Nigeria, 1998-99. In Human Rights Watch World Report 1999. (Online).
  • Nigeria, 1997-98. In Human Rights Watch World Report 1998. (Online).
  • "Nigeria: crackdown in the Niger Delta," May 1999 (Bronwen Manby et al., Africa Division, HRW) Human Rights Watch (Online) ; vol. 11, no. 2(A)
  • The Price of Oil: Corporate Responsibility and Human Rights Violations in Nigeria's Oil Producing Communities. -- New York: HRW, 1999. -- ISBN: 156432-225-4
    The full electronic version of this print publication. This report was written by Bronwen Manby, researcher in the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch, based on research in the Niger Delta in July 1997, subsequent correspondence with the major oil companies operating in the region, and information provided by Nigerian human rights and environmental activists. See also, Shell Nigeria's PR website.
  
  
• HURIWA--Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (Abuja, Nigeria)
  This site offers commentary on politics and human rights issues facing Nigerian peoples. With offices around the country, HURIWA seeks to promote respect for and protection of human rights and sponsors workshops and education seminars for the Nigerian public.
  
  
• IDEA--International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance on Nigeria (2004) (Stockholm, Sweden)
  "IDEA was engaged in a long-term country project in Nigeria from 1999–2004. The focus of the project was on supporting the evolving democratisation process in the country primarily by facilitating a dialogue based democracy assessment, led by a contact group of 42 Nigerian stakeholders from a broad variety of organisations and professions."
  
  
• International Court of Justice on Cameroon vs. Nigeria, 1994-
  -- Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria = "Frontière terrestre et maritime entre le Cameroun et le Nigéria."
  -- Dec. 1998 Application Request for an Interpretation on June 11, 1998 Judgement = Demande en interprétation de l'arrêt du 11 juin 1998
  
  
• International Crisis Group on Nigeria (Washington, DC; Dakar, Senegal; Brussels, Belgium)
  ***Free registration is required to download reports.
  • Nigeria profile, press releases, and reports
    
    
  • "Seizing the Moment in the Niger Delta" (April 2009) Africa Briefing No. 60.
    
    
  • "Ogoni Land after Shell" (September 2008) Africa Briefing No. 54.
  • "Ending Unrest in the Niger Delta" (December 2007) Africa Report No.135.
  • "Nigeria's Faltering Federal Experiment" (October 25, 2006) Africa report No. 119. 30 pages in PDF or Word format.
  • "The Swamps of Insurgency: Nigeria's Delta Unrest" (August 3, 2006) 42 pages in PDF or Word format
  
  
• International Foundation for Electoral Systems: Money and Politics in Nigeria. (2008) Edited by Victor A. O. Adetula. -- Abuja, Nigeria: IFES-Nigeria, 2008. 172 pages in PDF format
  
  
• Media Rights Agenda (Lagos, Nigeria)
  "MRA was established in August 1993 as an independent, non-governmental organisation for the purpose, among other things, of promoting and protecting press freedom and freedom of expression in Nigeria." See especially:
  -- Publications, 1997 to present
  
  
• National Population Commission of Nigeria (Abuja)
  The official website of the 2006 Census, with documents relating to the work of the commission and selected publications from the 1991 Population Census and other surveys (in PDF format).
  
  
• Niger Delta Matters -- Documents, Commentaries, and Links Urhobo Waado. (Prof. Peter Ekeh et al., Urhobo Historical Society, New York)
  
  
• Nigeria Congress Online (2004) (Abuja, Nigeria)
  Since March 2004, this site has offered basic information on the current Nigerian government and links to Nigerian news reports. "...provided by the West African Non-Governmental Organisation Network (WANGONeT). Funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) [of the United Kingdom] under the Nigeria Governance Fund, the project was supervised by the British Council."
  
  
• Nigeria Direct -- Official Website of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Abuja, Nigeria)
  Official information and current news; plus links to other government-related sites.
  
  
• Nigeria-Law (International Centre for Nigerian Law, Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria)
  Selected information on federal laws and the courts in Nigeria, including the Constitution (1999), the Supreme Court, lists of federal laws, and some federal legislation --in full text-- organized by year.
  
  
• Nigerian Muse (Bolaji Aluko, USA)
  • A "meta-website" for Nigerians in the USA about Nigerian and diasporan affairs; includes documents and links to other sites, plus essay commentaries by Bolaji Aluko. See especially:
  • Nigeriawatch
  
  
• Oil Change International: The Price of Oil -- Ken Saro Wiwa (2005) (USA)
  A website about a campaign to inform the public about oil industry activities and environmental politics around the world, including in the Niger delta. "A coalition of environmental and human rights organizations is mounting a national tour on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa. ...Oil Change is a research and advocacy organization that exists to force progress in the energy industry towards an environmentally and socially sustainable energy future."
  
  
• Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture = World Organization Against Torture: Hope betrayed? :
  a report on impunity and state-sponsored violence in Nigeria (2002) -- Geneva, Switzerland: OMCT ; Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria: Centre for Law Enforcement Education, 2002. 197 pages in PDF format
  -- See also: OMCT Home Page
  
  
• Remember Saro-Wiwa (PlatformLondon, London, UK)
  This website includes biographical information on the writer-publisher-activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, excerpts from his writings, current reports on Nigeria and on the activities of organizations concerned about Nigeria, and links to related organizations. "...a coalition of UK-based organisations and individuals encompassing the arts and literature, human rights and environmental and development issues."
  
  
• Sharia implementation in northern Nigeria 1999-2006: a sourcebook. Compiled and edited by Philip Ostien. -- Ibadan, Nigeria: Spectrum Books, Ltd ; Bayreuth, Germany: Universität Bayreuth, 2007. 5 volumes in PDF format
  
  
• Sierra Club: Human Rights and the Environment in Nigeria (San Francisco, California)
  Information about the campaign to influence Royal-Dutch Shell, other oil companies, and the Nigerian government; plus updated news reports on conditions in Nigeria.
  
  
• Nigerian State Websites (Nigerian Investment Promotion Centre, Abuja, Nigeria)
  A list of links to the websites of Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.
  
  
• Transition Monitoring Group (Abuja, Nigeria)
  This site offers general information about the organization. Warning: The most recent reports, press releases, and other publications are often not available.
  "TMG is the foremost election observer coalition in Nigeria. It was founded in 1998 and has 60 member organizations ...In the last five years, its membership has increased to over 170 groups. The coalition started its activities with the monitoring of the 1999 Nigerian general elections..."
  
  
• United States. Department of State (Washington, DC)
  • Nigeria Country Report on Human Rights Practices: 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008
  
  
• United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria -- Home Page (Abuja, Nigeria)
  
  
• United States Institute of Peace: Nigeria's 2007 Elections: The Fitful Path to Democratic Citizenship (January 2007) by Jibrin Ibrahim ...and related reports. 12 pages in PDF format. (Washington, DC)