Ethnic regions and groups have become more militant in their quest for autonomy, more powers or separatist states. Graffiti In Port Harcourt, Obioma Uzor, owner of Jacuzzi Night Club, said the violence nationwide has affected businesses. Since we're no longer under army rule, it's made greater freedom emerge for people. But most of them have a warped opinion of it. Because of the violence, businesses, particularly those depending on night-life, have suffered.
Sport wins One area that has benefitted from the advent of democracy is sport.
Nigeria won silver at the 2000 Cup of Nations tournament it co-hosted with Ghana. It was the Eagles' first outing in the biennial competition since winning the 1994 tournament in Tunisia. In 1996, after Nelson Mandela criticised the then Nigerian Government's executions of Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists, military ruler Sani Abacha ordered the Nigerian Eagles, to withdraw from the tournament hosted by South Africa. As punishment, Nigeria was later banned from attending the 1998 tournament in Burkina Faso. In spite of the odds, Nigerians are hopeful for the best and their country in the near future.