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Nigerian National Mosque, city of Abuja
The Abuja National Mosque is the national mosque of Nigeria located in Nigeria's capital Abuja.
Image: Jeff Attaway
 

Nigeria Flag
Flag of Nigeria
Location map of Nigeria. Where in Africa is Nigeria?
Location map of Nigeria
A virtual guide to Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a country in the south east of West Africa, with a coast at the Bight of Benin and the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria is bordered by Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, it shares maritime borders with Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

With an area of 923,768 km² the country is almost four times the size of the UK or slightly more than twice the size of the U.S. state California. Nigeria's main rivers are the Niger, where it got its name from, and the Benue, the main tributary of the Niger. The country's highest point is Chappal Waddi (or Gangirwal) with 2,419 m (7,936 ft.), located in the Adamawa mountains in the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Taraba State, on the border with Cameroon.

Nigeria has a population of 192 million people (UN est. in 2017), making it the seventh most populous country in the world. Capital city is Abuja, located in the center of the nation, while Lagos is the country's primary port, economic hub and the largest city. Spoken languages are English (official), Hausa, Igbo, it is estimated that Nigeria has about 250 different ethno-linguistic groups. Islam (41%) and Christianity (58%) are the country's major religions.
 

Federal Republic of Nigeria


Country Profile



Background:
British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and today Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960. Most of the next 40 years Nigeria was ruled by two military juntas (1966–79 and 1983–98). Only in 1999 a new constitution was adopted, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition,

Nigeria continues to experience long-standing ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history and the elections of 2011 were generally regarded as credible. In January 2014, Nigeria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2014-15 term.
 
 


Official Name:
Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria

ISO Country Code: ng, nga
Actual Time: Mon-Mar-18  04:21
Local Time = UTC +1h

Country Calling Code: +234

Capital City: Abuja (pop. 1 million).

Other Cities:
Lagos (21 million), Kano (2.5 - 3 million), Ibadan (3.2 million), Abuja (1 million), Port Harcourt (1.4 million), Benin City (1.2 million), Kaduna (800,000)

Government:
Type: An elected civilian government took office on 29 May 1999, following 15 years of military rule.
Independence: 1 October 1960.

Administrative Divisions:
Nigeria is divided into 36 administrative divisions (states) and the federal capital territory.

Geography:
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon.
Area: 924,000 sq. km. (356,700 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Ranges from southern coastal swamps to tropical forests, open woodlands, grasslands, and semidesert in the far north. The highest regions are the Jos Plateau 1,200-2,000 meters above sea level and the mountains along the border with Cameroon.

Climate: Nigeria lies within the tropics, it has two seasons, a wet season from April-Oct., and a dry season from Nov.-March. Its climate range from a warm desert clima in north east to a tropical savanna climate in south.

People:
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Nigerian(s).
Population: 192 million (UN estimate 2017)
Ethnic groups (374 pure ethnic stocks): Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba are the largest.
Religions: Muslim, Christian, indigenous African.
Languages: English (official), Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, others.
Literacy: 39%-51%.

Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc.
Agriculture products: Cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish.

Industries: Crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel.

Exports - commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Exports partners: UK 22.2%, Germany 17.9%, Netherlands 10.2%, France 6.6%, Sweden 6.1%, Belgium 5%, USA 4.5% (2015)

Imports - commodities: machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals

Imports partners: Sweden 12%, Germany 11.8%, China 10.9%, UK 6.7%, USA 6.6%, Denmark 6% (2015)

Currency: Naira (NGN)
House of Representatives (lower house) building in Abuja, Nigeria
House of Representatives building in Abuja. The House of Representatives is the lower house of Nigeria's bicameral National Assembly.
Image: Shiraz Chakera

Political System
Nigeria is a Federal Republic with a presidential system. Chief of State, Head of the Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is the president.
Nigeria's constitution provides the separation of powers of the three branches (Executive branch, Legislative branch, and Judicial branch).
The bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The country has a mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law. Sharia has been instituted as a main body of civil and criminal law in 9 Muslim-majority and in some parts of 3 Muslim-plurality states since 1999.


Official Sites of Nigeria

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.  

State House - Office of the President
The Presidency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Welcome to Nigeria
Official Website of Federal Government of Nigeria.

National Assembly of Nigeria
National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria
Official Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria.

Diplomatic Missions
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Nigerian Embassy in the United States, Washington, D.C.
Nigeria Missions
Directory of Nigerian missions abroad.

Maps

Map of Nigeria
Political Map of Nigeria showing cities, roads and more.
Administrative Map of Nigeria
Map of Nigeria showing the boundary of the administrative divisions and state capitals.

Google Earth Google Earth Nigeria
Searchable map/satellite view of Nigeria.
Google Earth Google Earth Abuja
Searchable map/satellite view of Nigeria's capital.
Google Earth Google Earth Lagos
Searchable map/satellite view of Lagos, primary port and largest city.

Political Map of West Africa
Map of West Africa with countries and major cities in Western Africa.

Political Map of Africa
The 54 countries of Africa.

Map of Africa
A Relief Map of Africa.

Nigeria News

According to Reporters Without Borders, Nigeria has more than 100 independent media outlets, but it is nearly impossible to cover stories involving politics, terrorism, or financial embezzlement. Journalists are often threatened, subjected to physical violence, or denied access to information by government officials, police, and sometimes the public itself. (RSF)

The Guardian
Lagos-based privately-owned national daily.
Daily Independent
Lagos based daily.
Daily Post
Online news covering Nigeria and other African countries.
Daily Trust
Abuja-based daily with national and international news.
Leadership
Abuja-based daily.
NAIJ.com
Nigeria breaking news, provided by the Nigerian news and entertainment portal.
This Day
National newspaper with regional and international news.
The Premium Times
Abuja-based daily with national and international news.
The Punch
A widely read newspaper in Nigeria.
Vanguard
Regional news, daily newspaper based in Lagos.
Today
Digital news site with a primary focus on Nigeria.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
The state-run news agency of Nigeria.
 

Bookmark/share this page
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Arts & Culture


National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC)
Living Arts and Culture of Nigeria.

Fela Kuti
Site dedicated to Fela Kuti the great Nigerian musician.

Ethnic groups of Nigeria
Yoruba (21%)
Hausa (21%)
Igbo (18%)
Fulani (11%)
Efik and Ibibio (7%)
Kanuri (4%)
Tiv (3%)
Edo (3%)
 

 

Business & Economy


Nigeria has emerged as Africa's largest economy, with a GDP in 2017 estimated at US$ 508 billion [1]. Oil has been a dominant source of government revenues since the 1970s. Regulatory constraints and security risks have limited new investment in oil and natural gas, and Nigeria's oil production contracted in 2012 and 2013. Nevertheless, the Nigerian economy has continued to grow at a rapid 6-8% per annum, driven by growth in agriculture, telecommunications, and services.

Central Bank of Nigeria
The Central Bank of Nigeria.

Abuja-ng
Abuja an emerging business hub.

Transport
Airlines
Aero
Domestic scheduled passenger services, based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport near Lagos.
Arik Air
Arik Air is the country's largest airline, it took over the facilities of former Nigeria Airways in 2006. Arik offers flights to and from Nigeria and within West Africa. In spring 2017 the Nigerian government has announced a takeover of the airline to prevent it going bankrupt.
Dana Air
Nigerian regional airline with several suspended licences, it is headquartered in Ikeja, state capital of Lagos State.

Railway
Nigerian Railway
State-owned enterprise headquartered in Lagos. A project to restore Nigeria's railways has been underway since 2009, with Chinese help.

Makoko slum, Lagos
Makoko, a shack city on stilts and the world's biggest floating slum. It is West Africa's Waterworld. In July 2012, Nigerian government officials destroyed dozens of residences after giving residents 72 hours notice of eviction.
Image: Rainer Wozny - Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (2010)
 

 
Nigerian kids at the beach
Kids at the beach near Niger Delta.
Image: Stars Foundation

Travel and Tour Consumer Information


Destination Nigeria - Travel and Tour Guides


Discover Nigeria
Cities: Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Abuja, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Benin City, Kaduna
National and other wildlife parks:
Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, Cross River National Park, Gashaka-Gumti National Park (Nigeria’s largest national park), Kainji Lake National Park, Kamuku National Park, Okumu National Park, Yankari National Park.
Lake Chad, Osun Sacred Grove (sacred forest) in Osogbo, Farin Ruwa Waterfalls,

Come to Nigeria
Rediscover Nigeria - tourism site with information on Festivals, People and Wild-Life Parks.
NigeriaGalleria
Nigerian information portal headquartered in Lagos.

World Heritage Sites in Nigeria

World Heritage Site Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
The dense forest of the Osun Sacred Grove, on the outskirts of the city of Osogbo, in Yorubaland is one of the last remnants of primary high forest in southern Nigeria. The landscape of the grove and its meandering river is dotted with sanctuaries and shrines, sculptures and art works in honour of Oshun, the goddess of fertility.

World Heritage Site Sukur Cultural Landscape
The Sukur Cultural Landscape, with the Palace of the Hidi (Chief) on a hill dominating the villages below, the terraced fields and their sacred symbols, and the extensive remains of a former flourishing iron industry. According to this site, (Sukur.info) the region in the Mandara mountains of northeast Nigeria was assaulted by Boko Haram extremists in 2014.
 
Wild-Life Nigeria
Wild-Life Nigeria © Nigeria Tourism
 

Education


National Library of Nigeria
The National Library of Nigeria in Abuja, regrettably most categories are empty.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
Founded in 1962 as the University of Ife.
Lagos State University - LASU
The university operates a multi-campus system, its main campus is at Ojo, Lagos.
National Open University of Nigeria
Nigeria's largest tertiary institution in terms of student numbers.
University of Abuja
The University in Nigeria's capital runs both conventional classroom and distance learning academic programmes.
University of Ibadan
Nigeria's Premier University was founded in 1962, it will be one of the five campuses of the new Pan African University (PAU), founded in 2011.
University of Nigeria
Federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, second oldest university in the country, founded in 1955.
 

 

History


History of Nigeria
Nigeria's history article by the Nigerian government.
History and People of Nigeria
from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Igbo People – Origins and History
Igboland is the home of the Igbo people and it covers most of Southeast Nigeria.
Urhobo Waado - Urhobo History and Culture
The Urhobo people are one of the major ethnic nationalities of the Niger delta.
After The War Was Over
The Biafran war.
Nigerian Civil War
Wikipedia article about the Nigerian Civil War, better known as the Biafran War, (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970)
 

 

Native


Edo Nation
Edo Nation located in the Midwestern part of Nigeria and Benin.

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People - MOSOP
By the former Sani Abacha military govt. executed Ken Saro-Wiwa was one of the leaders of the movement.

 
Nigeria Elefants Elefants in one of Nigeria's Wild-Life Parks © Nigeria Tourism

Scam


Scam - Advance Fee Fraud, a speciality of some individuals doing business - be careful.
Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud - "4-1-9"
Information about 4-1-9 Schemes by United States Secret Service.
The 419 Coalition Website
Advance Fee Fraud information.
419 scams
Wikipedia entry about the scam.
 

 
 

Search

Nigeria Infonet
Nigerian information index and search engine.

Sources and additional Information on Nigeria

 
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Major Cities in West Africa
Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Bamako, Banjul, Bissau, Conakry, Cotonou, Dakar, Freetown, Lagos, Lomé, Monrovia,
Niamey, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou, Porto-Novo, Praia, Sao Tome City, Yamoussoukro

Other Countries of Western Africa
Benin | Burkina Faso | Cape Verde | Côte d'Ivoire | Gambia | Ghana | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau
Liberia | Mali | Mauritania | Niger | Senegal | Sierra Leone | Togo
 
 
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