Nigeria
The most populous country in Africa, a federal republic between the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea.
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of 923,769 square kilometres (356,669 mi2). With a population of more than 242 million, it is the most populous country in Africa, and the world's sixth-most populous country. Nigeria borders Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west. Nigeria is a federal republic comprising 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, where its capital, Abuja, is located. The largest city in Nigeria by population is Lagos, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world and the second largest in Africa.
- Capital
- Abuja
- Region
- Western Africa
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Nigerian naira
- Continent
- Africa
- Capital City
- Abuja
- Largest City
- Lagos
- Official Language
- English
- Major Ethnic Groups
- Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo
Lore & Background
Nigeria has been home to several indigenous material cultures, pre-colonial states and kingdoms since the second millennium BC. The Nok culture, dating from around 1000 BC to 300 AD, marks one of the earliest known civilisations in the region. The Hausa Kingdoms inhabited the north, with the Edo Kingdom of Benin in the south, the Igbo Kingdom of Nri in the southeast, and in the southwest the Yoruba Empire of Oyo. The present-day territory of Nigeria was home to a vast array of city-states. In the early 19th century, the Fulani Jihads culminated in the Sokoto Caliphate. The modern state originated with British colonialization in the 19th century, taking its present territorial shape with the merging of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1914. Nigeria officially gained independence as a federation on 1 October 1960. From 1967 to 1970, the country was ravaged by civil war, followed by a series of military dictatorships (as well as an unstable democracy from 1979 to 1983), until a stable democracy was established in 1999.
In Their Own Story
The humid air of Lagos hangs heavy over the Third Mainland Bridge as the sun begins to dip below the horizon. Below, the chaotic symphony of yellow danfo buses weaves through traffic, their conductors shouting destinations that blend Hausa, Yoruba, and Pidgin English into a unique urban rhythm. In a small studio in Surulere, an editor cuts footage from a morning shoot; outside, the city hums with the energy of millions dreaming big, proving that while the roads may be congested, the spirit of this nation moves faster than any car.
Reader's Guide
Nigeria is a multinational state inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups speaking 500 distinct languages. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo together constituting over 60% of the total population. The official language is English. Nigeria's constitution ensures freedom of religion. The country is divided roughly in half between Muslims and Christians; indigenous religions are in the minority. Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest economies, alongside South Africa and Egypt. It is regarded as an emerging market by the World Bank. Nigeria is a regional power in Africa and a middle power in international affairs. Nigeria is a founding member of the African Union and a member of many international organisations, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, NAM, the Economic Community of West African States, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and OPEC.
Did You Know?
- The name Nigeria derives from the Niger River, coined on 8 January 1897 by British journalist Flora Shaw.
- The Nok civilisation thrived between around 1000 BC and 300 AD and produced life-sized terracotta figures.
- Nigeria's largest city by population is Lagos, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world and the second largest in Africa.
- The Kingdom of Nri of the Igbo people consolidated in the 10th century and continued until it lost its sovereignty to the British in 1911.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nigeria?
Nigeria is the most populous nation on the African continent, a sprawling West African state anchored along the Gulf of Guinea coast. It operates with English as its official language, the naira as its currency, and Abuja as its capital city.
What is Nigeria's role in the West African storyline?
Nigeria functions as the dominant economic and cultural force in the region, earning the self-styled title 'Giant of Africa' through its sheer population size and influence. Its vast oil reserves power not only its own economy but the broader continental energy landscape.
What is Nigeria's origin story?
Rather than a single clean narrative, Nigeria's history reads as a friction-filled convergence of ancient indigenous kingdoms, British colonial consolidation, and a turbulent post-independence era of political upheaval. Multiple identities were forced into one national framework, and the tensions have never fully resolved.
What are Nigeria's signature abilities?
Beyond its petroleum wealth, Nigeria drives a global creative wave through its massive film industry and music scenes that have reshaped international culture. This dual identity—industrial powerhouse meets artistic renaissance—sets it apart from most other nations in the canon.
Why is Nigeria so central to the African narrative?
As the continent's most populous country, Nigeria carries disproportionate weight in African politics, economics, and culture. Its trajectory shapes the broader story of modern Africa, making it arguably the single most consequential national character in the continent's ongoing saga.
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