Nigeria Country Profile

Quick Facts about Nigeria

Independence; 1 October 1960

National holiday; Independence 1 October, 1960

Currency; naira.

Languages; English –official, others are; Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani, Efik, Ejagham, Urhobo, Edo

Geography

Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation is situated in equatorial West Africa. It has a southern coastline on the Gulf of Guinea, and has Benin to the west, Cameroon to the southeast, Chad to the northeast, and Niger to the northwest. It is the largest oil producer and second largest economy in Africa. Nigeria is a former British colony and a member of the British Commonwealth. Nigeria is positioned at the extreme inner corner of the Gulf of Guinea on the west coast of Africa. On 12 December 1991, the capital was officially transferred from Lagos to Abuja; most federal government offices have now made the move to Abuja.

Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in May 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The president faces the daunting task of rebuilding a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy.

It dominates West Africa economically and politically, and has produced music and literature whose influence spreads far beyond the continent. But for all this clout, mention the country’s name to the person on the street and they’re more likely to come up with a litany of woe: corruption, ethnic violence and email scams.

Culture & People

If you are speaking the language, some of the languages have different ways of addressing those older than you, from those younger than you. You do not hand things over to people, especially adults and elders older than you, with your left hand. It’s considered an insult. When entering a house in the predominantly Muslim North, you have to let them know in advance that you are visiting so that the women can prepare themselves by covering up both hair and bodies as required by Islam.

Tourist Attractions

Nigeria is a country we’re coming to love. Getting around can sometimes be a little tough, and it’s certainly a challenging destination for first-timers to Africa. Lagos is one of the most exuberant cities in Africa, while Port city Calabar makes for an enjoyable stopover for travelers on their way to Cameroon. Across Southern Nigeria, old kingdoms carry on their customs, from creating elaborate brass sculptures to venerating the ancient gods. More modern traditions include one of the world’s pioneering primate conservation organizations. In the north, where the land dries out as it stretches towards the desert, Muslim Nigeria thrives in dusty trade cities where memories of the Saharan trade routes still linger. Don’t miss West Africa’s oldest city Kano and Yankari National Park, the best in the country.

Getting there & around

By Air; there are several African companies: South African Airlines from Johannesburg, Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa, Kenya Airways from Nairobi, Afriqya from Tripoli and Hewa Bora from Kinshasa. Also are several European airlines fly to Nigeria: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Air France, Alitalia, Turkish Airline, Lufthansa, Iberia Airlines. Other inter-continental airlines fly to Nigeria including China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Middle East Airlines and Qatar Airways. There are International airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt.

By Road; road networks in Nigeria are relatively poor compared with North American and European countries. However, getting around is relatively easy, except that there could be delays due to traffic jams within most major cities. There are multitudes of coaches and buses that will take you to any part of Nigeria you wish. The okada (motorcycle) is not for the faint-hearted (no helmets) and should only be used for short distance journeys. “Okadas” will get you to where you want to go quickly and you will get there in one piece.

When to Travel

Nigeria’s climate varies; equatorial in the south, tropical in the center, arid in the north. Natural hazards include periodic droughts and flooding. Tornadoes and hurricanes are rare because they typically are weak at this stage and travel west of the Atlantic. For travel to the south, March to August is the wettest season to visit Nigeria, and best avoided if possible. Temperatures are hot year-round, peaking in the spring; the humidity is constant.

Calling Nigeria; Dialing into Nigeria: callers use +234, then phone digit numbers.

Travel Alert! The security situation in northern Nigeria is unstable and violence is not uncommon; travelers should exercise extreme caution. Kidnappings and attacks on foreign oil workers are an ongoing threat in the Bakassi Peninsula and Niger Delta regions of Nigeria.