1) Nigeria is made up of diverse ethnic groups, the four largest being the Hausa and Fulani (north), the Ibo (east), and the Yoruba (west), with up to 250 smaller groups scattered throughout the region. [ George Ashworth, ed. World Minorities, (Sunbury: Quartermaine House Ltd., 1977), p.117.]
The four largest groups comprise 60 percent of the population. [ George Kurian, Encyclopedia of the Third World, Third Edition, (New York: Facts on File, Inc.), p. 1472.] The larger minority groups include the Ibibio, Efik, Anang, Ekoi, Ijaw, Kanuri, Edo, Tiv, Nupe, and Benis. More than tribalism, it is ethnolinguistic differences which govern political and social dynamics in Nigeria. The official language, English, is spoken by only 5 percent of the people. Even within ethnic groups, regional differences in political organization exist. [ Area Handbook Series: Nigeria, a Country Study, (Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1982)] In the past, ethnic allegiances have led to demands for regional autonomy by the Ibo, Hausa and Yoruba. The Nigerian government has attempted to create an administrative formula to balance power among the various ethnic groups, but political and social instability caused by frequent coups, ethnic loyalties, and regional economic differences have made this task difficult. Recently, inter-ethnic problems have developed over the creation of new state boundaries within a federal structure. [ See the attached article, "On the Border", West Africa, 22-28 May 1989, p.823.] Another complicating factor is the religious diversity of Nigeria. Islam dominates the north, and Christianity, the south, though the Muslims constitute the majority. [ "To keep Nigeria one", The Economist, 3 May 1986.]
There is no official policy of discrimination against particular ethnic groups, but government officials are under pressure to favour their own ethnic group or region. [ U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1987, p. 231.] Hiring quotas in public sector employment are based on the state-of-origin, and "persons whose family is not indigenous to their state of residence frequently experience difficulty in job-seeking, school enrolment, and other areas."
[ U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1987, p. 231.]

2) The Efik are found in the southeast of Nigeria, particularly around the Bight of Biafra (see the attached language map). The Efik language is a dialect of Ibibio, within the larger Benue- Congo family. The Efik people were slavers and traders, which led to the use of the Efik language both in trade and in early translations of the Bible during the British colonial era.

Nigeria, a Country Study, p. 106.] Early access to European influences gave the Efik advantages, and they were among the first professionals and administrators under British rule.

Nigeria, a Country Study, pp. 106, 108.
Amnesty International reports of human rights abuses in Nigeria available to the IRBDC do not detail discrimination again lost the Efik ethnic group. No other information on the mistreatment of Efiks is available to the IRBDC at this time.
Please see the attached articles:

-"On the border", West Africa, 22-28 May 1989.

-"To keep Nigeria one", The Economist, 3 May 1986.

-Nigeria, a Country Study, Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1982

-Ashworth, Georgina, ed. World Minorities, Volume One. Sunbury: Quartermaine House Ltd., 1977.