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LIVE AND LET LIVE – A SYMPHONY OF LIFE IN ABUJA

nationalities. T ose were days of constant communications and negotiations
with all the relevant agencies and foreign missions for assistance. Malaysians
who were af ected were cooperative in and supportive of all ef orts made by
Mission Abuja. We continued to communicate closely and provide consular
assistance to Malaysians in the country and in six accredited countries:
Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, and
Gabon.

Work is as usual at Mission Abuja and we embrace the new normal and adhere
to the Standard Operating Procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic. We
live and let live, embracing Abuja as our home and work location.

Nigeria in Brief
President Muhammadu Buhari won the presidential election in 2019 and
is currently in his second term in of ce. Nigeria is a federal republic with a
three-tier government at federal (central), state and local governments. It has
36 states under the rule of governors as heads of states, alongside inf uential
traditional rulers comprising Sultans and Emirs in Northern Nigeria, village
chiefs in Eastern Nigeria (Igwe, Eze), Western Nigeria (Obas, Ooni, Aalaf n)
and Southern Nigeria (Olu, Obas, Obong).

Nigeria is situated in western Africa with a total land area of 923,768 sq.
kilometres. It is the most populous country in Africa and boasts much
economic strength in the region. Nigeria has an estimated population of
211 million people (United Nations – World Population Prospects), with
populace professing a balance of Muslim and Christian religion. Nigeria’s
Gross Domestic Product in 2021 is at USD466.88 billion and main exports
are oil and gas, cashew, cocoa oil seeds, raw hide, and leather. Inf ation is an
issue that continuously af ects the country. In January 2021, the inf ation
rate was at 18 per cent. T is led to the increase in the prices of goods
and services and high standard of living. Nigeria boasts 60 per cent of
the population of young workforce aged 18 to 45 but the reality is, they
are most hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, an estimated
30 per cent of Nigeria’s population are unemployed, while approximately
60 per cent are on daily wages.

Security challenges remain infectious and deadly in Nigeria. In 2021,

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