The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country in West Africa and, by far, the most populated nation in Africa. It borders on Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the south. Major cities include the capital Abuja, the former capital Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Jos, and Benin City. The country's name is unrelated to its African heritage; it was proposed by a Times article in 1897. West Africa is the region of western Africa generally considered to include these countries: Benin Burkina Faso Cameroon Côte dIvoire (Ivory Coast) Equatorial Guinea Gabon The Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Niger Nigeria Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) Senegal Sierra Leone Togo Chad, Mauritania, and... The Republic of Benin is a nation of western Africa, formerly known as Dahomey. ... The Republic of Chad (تشاد) is a land-locked nation in central Africa. ... The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central Africa. ... Niger is a landlocked sub-Saharan country in Western Africa situated north of Nigeria, east of Mali, and south of Algeria and Libya, named after the Niger river. ... The gigantic Gulf of Guinea is the part of the Atlantic southwest of Africa. ... Abuja, estimated population 1,078,700, is the capital of Nigeria in western Africa. ... Alternate uses: Lagos (disambiguation) Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria and, with its population of 13. ... Abeokuta is a city of southwest Nigeria, situated at 7°8N, 3°25E, on the Ogun river, 64 miles north of Lagos by railway, or 81 miles by water. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Port Harcourt is a city located in the Niger Delta in Nigeria. ... For other uses of the word Kano see Kano (disambiguation). ... Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna state. ... Jos is a small town in the Nigerian middle belt (population of 201,200, estimate for the year 1995). ... Benin, a city (1991 est. ... The Times is a national quality daily newspaper in the United Kingdom. ...

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: Unity and Strength, Peace and Progress
Official language	English
Capital	Abuja
Largest city	Lagos
President	Olusegun Obasanjo
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 31st 923,768 km² 1.4%
Population  - Total (2004)  - Density	Ranked 9th 133,881,703 147/km²
Independence  - Date	From the United Kingdom October 1, 1960
Currency	Naira
Time zone	UTC +1
National anthem	Arise O Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey
Internet TLD	.ng
Calling Code	234

History

Main article: History of Nigeria Italic textBefore the colonial period, the area which comprises modern Nigeria had an eventful history. ...

The Kanem-Bornu Empire near Lake Chad dominated northern Nigeria for over 600 years, prospering as a terminal of north-south trade between North African Berbers and forest people. In the early 19th century, Usman dan Fodio brought most areas in the north under the loose control of an Islamic empire centered in Sokoto. The Kanem-Bornu Empire existed in Africa, established around 1200 and lasting, in a changed form, until the 1840s. ... Lake Chad in a 2001 satellite image, with the actual lake in blue, and vegetation on top of the old lake bed in green. ... The Berbers (also called Imazighen, free men, singular Amazigh) are a predominantly Muslim ethnic group indigenous to the Maghreb, speaking the Berber languages of the Afroasiatic family. ... Shaihu Usman dan Fodio (also referred to as Shaikh Usman Ibn Fodio; alternative spelling, Shehu), 1754-1817 was a writer and Islamic reformer. ...

The kingdoms of Oyo in the southwest, and Benin in the southeast both developed elaborate systems of political organization in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Ife and Benin are noted for their prized artistic works in ivory, wood, bronze, and brass. Oyo is the name for a city in Africa and also the loose empire which that city controlled in the 17th and 18th centuries. ... The Kingdom of Benin was a widespread empire, which flourished from the 14th to the 19th century. ... A bronze cast depicting the head of an Ooni, or king, from 1100s-1200s Ife. ...

In the 17th through 19th centuries, European traders established coastal ports for the increasing traffic in slaves destined for the Americas. Commodity trade replaced slave trade in the 19th century. The word slave has at least two meanings: People who are owned by others, and live to serve them without pay. ...

The Royal Niger Company was chartered by the British government in 1886. Nigeria became a British protectorate in 1901, and a colony in 1914. In response to the growth of Nigerian nationalism following World War II, the British moved the colony towards self-government on a federal basis.

Nigeria was granted full independence in 1960, as a federation of three regions, each retaining a substantial measure of self-government.

In 1966, two successive coups by different groups of army officers brought the country under military rule. The leaders of the second coup tried to increase the power of the federal government, and replaced the regional governments with 12 state governments. The Igbos, the dominant ethnic group in the eastern region, declared independence as the Republic of Biafra in 1967 following a pogrom in the northern states that led to the extermination of 30,000 Igbos. The Igbos created Biafra and war broke out with the Federal Government. Under Brigadiers Adekunle, Obasanjo and Murtala Mohammed a systematic and amphibous battle plan that comprised saturated air bombings and starvation forced the Biafran rebels to capitulate. On the 15 of January, left with the choice of surrender and the total destruction of the Biafran populace, Philip Effiong, Chief of Staff of the rebel army accepted the terms of surrender before Yakubu Gowon, Head of the Northern dominated federal government. The Ibo are a group of people living in what is now Nigeria. ... Categories: Africa geography stubs | Former countries ...

In 1975, a bloodless coup swept Gowon aside and brought Murtala Ramat Mohammed to power, who promised a return to civilian rule. However, he was killed in an abortive coup, and succeeded by his chief of staff, Olusegun Obasanjo. A new constitution was drafted in 1977, and elections were held in 1979, which were won by Shehu Shagari. Categories: People stubs | Africa-related stubs | Nigerian heads of state ... Obasanjo met with U.S. President Bush in France on June 1, 2003. ... Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Turakin Sakkwato (born May 25, 1925) was the President of Nigerias ill-fated Second Republic (1979 - 1983), after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjos caretaker government. ...

Nigeria returned to military government in 1983, by a coup which established the Supreme Military Council as the country's new ruling body. After elections in 1993, Chief M.K.O. Abiola won the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, which were canceled by the military government of General Babangida. An Interim National Government was set up, headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. The Government was declared Illegal and unconstitutional by an High Court and General Sani Abacha took power. He imprisoned Chief M.K.O. Abiola and looted the National Treasury. His reign of terror came to an end when he died suddenly and in 1998 Abdulsalami Abubakar became leader of the Provisional Ruling Council. He lifted the suspension of the 1979 constitution, and was set to release Chief M.K.O. Abiola the winner of the 1993 Election before the latter died in July 1998 in what International medical experts confirmed were natural causes. In 1999, Nigeria elected Olusegun Obasanjo as President in its first elections in 16 years. Obasanjo and his party also won the turbulent elections of 2003. Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (often referred to as M. K. O. Abiola) (born August 24, 1937?) in Abeokuta, was a Nigerian Yorùbá businessman and political figure. ... Categories: People stubs | 1943 births | 1998 deaths | Nigerian heads of state ... Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (often referred to as M. K. O. Abiola) (born August 24, 1937?) in Abeokuta, was a Nigerian Yorùbá businessman and political figure. ... General Abdulsalam Abubakar (born June 13, Nigerias eighth military Head of State in 1998, after Ironsi, Gowon, Murtala, Obasanjo, Buhari, Babangida and Abacha, since the countrys independence from Britain in 1960. ... Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (often referred to as M. K. O. Abiola) (born August 24, 1937?) in Abeokuta, was a Nigerian Yorùbá businessman and political figure. ... Obasanjo met with U.S. President Bush in France on June 1, 2003. ...

Politics

Main article: Politics of Nigeria Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria Data code: NI Government type: republic. ...

Nigeria is a Federal Republic, comprising 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. A federal republic is, as the term suggests, a state which is both a federation and a republic. ... Abuja, estimated population 1,078,700, is the capital of Nigeria in western Africa. ...

States

Main article: States of Nigeria

For traditional states, see Nigerian traditional states

Nigeria is divided into 36 states and 1 territory. Nigeria is currently divided into 36 states and 1 territory. ... There are hundreds of traditional states in Nigeria. ... This article discusses states as sovereign political entities. ... A territory is a defined area (including land and waters), usually considered to be a possession of an animal, person, organization, or institution. ...

Each state has a unicameral House of Assembly and an elected Governor, who appoints an Executive Council. Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral legislature, in some countries, often at subnational level. ... A governor is an official who heads the government of a colony, state or other sub-national state unit. ... An Executive Council in British constitutional practice is the top tier of a government led by a Governor-General, Governor or a Lieutenant-Governor, superior to Legislative Councils and Legislative Assemblies. ...

Abia State, Nigeria, is a state in southeastern Nigeria. ... Adamawa is a state in northeastern Nigeria. ... Akwa Ibom is a state in Nigeria. ... Anambra is a state in east-central Nigeria. ... Benue is a state in Nigeria. ... Cross River is a state in southeastern Nigeria. ... Delta State is a state in Nigeria. ... Ekita State is one of the states of Nigeria. ... Gombe is a State in Nigeria. ... Imo State in Nigeria came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad. ... Kogi State - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Lagos State, Nigeria was created on May 27, 1967. ... Niger State is a state in the Middle West of Nigeria. ... Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. ... Ondo State, Nigeria was created on February 3, 1976 from the former Western region. ... Plateau State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. ... The Federal Capital Territory is the home of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. ...

Geography

Map of Nigeria (source: CIA's The World Factbook)

Main article: Geography of Nigeria Current map of Nigeria from http://www. ... CIA, see CIA (disambiguation). ... The World Factbook is an annual publication by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ... Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 8 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 923,768 sq km land: 910,768 sq km water: 13,000 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of California Land...

Nigeria is located on the Gulf of Guinea. Its major cities are located in southern lowlands. The central part of the country contains hills and plateaus. The north consists of arid plains. Its neighboring countries are Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The gigantic Gulf of Guinea is the part of the Atlantic southwest of Africa. ... The Republic of Benin is a nation of western Africa, formerly known as Dahomey. ... Niger is a landlocked sub-Saharan country in Western Africa situated north of Nigeria, east of Mali, and south of Algeria and Libya, named after the Niger river. ... The Republic of Chad (تشاد) is a land-locked nation in central Africa. ... The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central Africa. ...

Forest and woodland occurs chiefly in the southern third of the country, which is affected by seasonal rains from the Atlantic which occur from June to September. As one progresses northward the country becomes drier and the vegetation more savanna in type. The northern third of the country forms part of the semi-arid sahel region on the fringes of the Sahara desert. The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ... Savanna is a grassland dotted with trees, and occurs in several types of biomes. ... See also Sahel, Tunisia, a region of eastern Tunisia. ... The Sahara is the worlds second largest desert (second to Antarctica), over 9,000,000 km² (3,500,000 mi²), located in northern Africa and is 2. ...

Nigeria is divided roughly in three by the rivers Niger and Benue, which flow through the country from north-east and north-west to meet roughly in the centre of the country near the new capital city of Abuja. From here the united rivers flow south to the sea at the Niger delta. The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending over 2500 miles (about 4000 km). ... The Benue River or Bénoué River is the major tributary of the River Niger. ... Abuja, estimated population 1,078,700, is the capital of Nigeria in western Africa. ...

Cities

Main article: List of cities in Nigeria This is a list of cities in Nigeria: Lagos Abeokuta Ilorin Ondo Ado Ekiti Oyo Ibadan Ife Ogbomoso Onitsha Oshogbo Abuja Badagri Benin City Calabar Enugu Jos Kaduna Kano Katsina Maiduguri Makurdi Port Harcourt Sokoto Warri Yola Zaria Categories: Lists of cities | Nigeria ...

The principal cities of Nigeria are:

Aba is a city in Nigeria, located on the Aba River. ... Abuja, estimated population 1,078,700, is the capital of Nigeria in western Africa. ... Abeokuta is a city of southwest Nigeria, situated at 7°8N, 3°25E, on the Ogun river, 64 miles north of Lagos by railway, or 81 miles by water. ... Ado Ekiti is a city in southwest Nigeria, in the state of Osun. ... Akure is a city in the southwestern region of Nigeria, and is the capital of Ondo state. ... Asaba may refer to: Asaba - city in Nigeria Asaba - city in Shizuoka, Japan sometimes called Asabane. ... Badagri is a coastal town in South West Nigeria, lying between Lagos and the border with Benin. ... Benin, a city (1991 est. ... Calabar is a city in South Eastern Nigeria; it is the capital of Cross River State. ... Ede is a town in Osun State, Nigeria. ... Enugu City is located in what is now Enugu State, Nigeria. ... This article needs cleanup. ... A bronze cast depicting the head of an Ooni, or king, from 1100s-1200s Ife. ... Ilorin is the sixth largest city in Nigeria and is the capital of Kwara State. ... Located in south-western Nigeria, Ijebu Ode with over 100,000 residents is the second largest city in Ogun State after Abeokuta. ... Iwo is a city in Nigeria. ... Jos is a small town in the Nigerian middle belt (population of 201,200, estimate for the year 1995). ... For other uses of the word Kano see Kano (disambiguation). ... Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna state. ... Katsina is an old city of Northern Nigeria 160 miles South East of the city of Sokoto, and 84 m. ... Alternate uses: Lagos (disambiguation) Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria and, with its population of 13. ... Ogbomosho City (also spelled Ogbomoso) is located in the present day Oyo state in south west Nigeria, and was founded in the 17th century. ... Ondo City is the largest city in Ondo state, Nigeria. ... Onitsha (pop 362,000, 1995 est. ... An ore is a mineral deposit containing a metal or other valuable resource in economically viable concentrations. ... Ota can refer to the ward of Ōta in Tokyo the city of Ota, Nigeria in Nigeria the city of Ōta in Gunma prefecture of Japan. ... Owerri is a city in southeastern Nigeria. ... Oyo is the name for a city in Africa and also the loose empire which that city controlled in the 17th and 18th centuries. ... Port Harcourt is a city located in the Niger Delta in Nigeria. ... Sokoto (which is the modern/anglicised version of the local name, Sakkwato; also known as Sakkwato, Birnin Shaihu da Bello or Sokoto, Capital of Shaihu and Bello) is a city located in the Northwestern region of Nigeria, and is the modern day capital of Sokoto State (and its predecessor, the... Saki (December 18, 1870 - November 14, 1916) was the pen name of British author Hector Hugh Munro, whose witty and outrageous stories satirized the Edwardian social scene in macabre and cruel ways. ... Umuahia is the capital city of Abia State, Nigeria. ... Uyo is a city in South Eastern Nigeria; it is the capital of of Akwa Ibom State, a major oil producing area of Nigeria. ... Warri is a city in Nigeria. ... Yola is the administrative center of the state of Adamawa, Nigeria. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Nigeria The oil-rich Nigerian economy, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management, is undergoing substantial economic reform under the new civilian administration. ...

The oil-rich Nigerian economy, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management, is undergoing substantial economic reform under the new civilian administration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has not kept up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food.

Mineral resources include petroleum, coal and tin. Agricultural products include groundnuts, palm oil, cocoa, citrus Fruits, maize, millet, cassava, yams and sugar cane. Nodding donkey pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 Petroleum (from Latin petrus – rock and oleum – oil), mineral oil, or crude oil, sometimes colloquially called black gold, is a thick, dark brown or greenish flammable liquid, which exists in the upper strata of some areas of the Earths... Coal Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground either by underground mining, open-pit mining or strip mining. ... The word tin is often used to mean a can, even if it does not contain any tin metal. ... This article is about peanut, the food. ... Palm oil is a form of edible vegetable oil obtained from the fruit of the Oil palm tree. ... This article is about cocoa, the food. ... Species & major hybrids Species Citrus maxima - Pomelo Citrus medica - Citron Citrus reticulata - Mandarin & Tangerine Major hybrids Citrus x aurantifolia - Lime Citrus x aurantium - Bitter Orange Citrus x bergamia - Bergamot Citrus x hystrix - Kaffir Lime Citrus x ichangensis - Ichang Lemon Citrus x limon - Lemon Citrus x limonia - Rangpur Citrus x paradisi... Species Zea diploperennis Zea luxurians Zea nicaraguensis Zea perennis References ITIS 42268 2002-09-22 Sorting Zea names This article is about the staple food. ... For the Ottoman system of ethno-religious divisions see Millet Nutrition information for one cup of cooked millet Millet is the collective name of a group of genera of the grass family(Gramineae/Paniceae) widely grown around the world for food or animal feed. ... Binomial name Manihot esculenta Crantz Cassava or manioc (Manihot esculenta; also yuca in Spanish, and mandioca, aipim, or macaxera in Portuguese) is a woody perennial shrub of the spurge family, that is extensively cultivated as an annual crop for its edible starchy tuberous root. ... For the Levantine god of the untamed sea, see Yaw. ... Species Ref: ITIS 42058 as of 2004-05-05 Sugarcane is one of six species of a tall tropical southeast Asian grass (Family Poaceae) having stout fibrous jointed stalks whose sap at one time was the primary source of sugar. ...

Although it has gained notoriety for such a trade, Nigeria is home to the majority of advance fee fraud scammers. It is estimated that anywhere between 100,000 and 300,000 scammers operate out of Nigeria, although many are found elsewhere in the world. Advance fee fraud, also known as "419" after the section of the Nigerian legal code that deals with it, typically accounts for a large majority of all money transfers to the region, and plays a sizable role in the economics of key cities such as Lagos. While in recent years many other countries have had problems with this sort of con, Nigeria remains the center of this type of scam. Advance fee fraud, often also known as the Nigerian money transfer fraud, Nigerian scam or 419 scam after the relevant section of the Nigerian Criminal Code [1] that it violates, is a fraudulent scheme to extract money from investors living in rich countries in Europe, Australia, or North America. ... Alternate uses: Lagos (disambiguation) Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria and, with its population of 13. ...

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Nigeria The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria accounts for approximately one-quarter of West Africas people. ...

The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria accounts for approximately one-fifth of Africa's people. Although less than 25% of Nigerians are urban dwellers, at least 24 cities have populations of more than 100,000. The variety of customs, languages, and traditions among Nigeria's 250 ethnic groups gives the country a rich diversity. The dominant ethnic group in the northern part are the Hausa-Fulani, the overwhelming majority of whom are Muslim. Other major ethnic groups of the north are the Nupe, Tiv, and Kanuri. The Hausa-Fulani is a term sometimes used for the people of the Hausa kingdoms of the seventeenth and eighteenth century and the Fulani Empire of the nineteenth of Northern Nigeria, Mali, and Niger. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... The Kanuri are an African ethnic group living in northeastern Nigeria in the state of Bornu. ...

The Yoruba people are predominant in the south. Over half of the Yorubas are Christian and about a quarter are Muslim, with the remainder following mostly traditional beliefs. The predominantly Christian Igbo are the largest ethnic group in the southeast. Roman Catholics are the largest denomination, but Anglican, Pentecostal and other Evangelical denominations are also strong. The Efik, Ibibio/Annang, and Ijaw (the country's fourth-largest ethnic group) communities also comprise a substantial segment of the population in that area. Persons of different language backgrounds most commonly communicate in English, although knowledge of two or more Nigerian languages is widespread. Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo are the most widely used Nigerian languages. In recent years there have been sporadic clashes between Christian and Muslim groups, particularly in the North of the country, where there has been (possibly micro-politically induced) pressure to introduce Islamic Sharia law. The Yorùbá are the largest ethnic group in Nigeria, comprising approximately 26 percent of that countrys total population, and numbering about close to 100 million individuals throughout the region of West Africa. ... The Igbo are a group of people living in what is now Nigeria. ... The Catholic Church in Nigeria is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. ... The Church of Nigeria is the Anglican Church in Nigeria. ... The Pentecostal movement within Protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. ... Evangelical has several distinct meanings: In its original sense, it means belonging or related to the Gospel (Greek: euangelion - good news) of the New Testament. ... Ibibio may refer to: The Ibibio language The Ibibio people This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Ijaw (also known as the Ijo) are a collection of peoples residing mostly in the forest regions of the Niger River delta in Nigeria, and numbering several million individuals. ... Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ...

One issue which has been complicated by political chaos has been the effort of the World Health Organization to eradicate polio worldwide. Northern Nigeria was the location of half of all documented polio cases in 2003, but Muslim clerics have repeatedly inveighed against the vaccine as an effort by Westerners to sterilize young Nigerian Muslim girls. The national vaccination program was suspended in several states in August of 2003, and the disease nearly quintupled in frequency (119 cases in first quarter 2004, vs. 24 in 2003). By May of 2004, polio was reported to have spread from there to several other African nations which had previously been declared polio-free. On May 18, the state of Kano agreed to resume vaccination programs using vaccines produced in Indonesia, not the US. [1] (http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1084907670277) For other meanings of the acronym WHO, see WHO (disambiguation) WHO flag Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Health Organization (WHO) is an agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health. ... Poliomyelitis (polio), or infantile paralysis, is a viral paralytic disease. ... A bottle and a syringe containing the influenza vaccine. ... For the process of removing or killing all microorganisms from an object, see Sterilization (microbiology). ... The Republic of Indonesia is located in the Malay Archipelago, the worlds largest archipelago, between Indochina and Australia, between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. ...

Culture

Main article: Culture of Nigeria Nigeria has inspired culture everywhere. ...

• Music of Nigeria
• List of writers from Nigeria
• Islam in Nigeria

Fela Kuti remains probably the most well-known Nigerian musician, both at home and abroad Nigerian music has produced many kinds of folk and popular music, some of which are known throughout the world. ... African Writers (by country): This is a list of literary figures from the African continent, listed by country, including poets, novelists, childrens writers, essayists, and scholars, listed by country. ... Islam is a traditional religion in West Africa. ...

Literature

Toyin Falola, Nigeria in the Twentieth Century, Carolina Academic Press 2002

See also

• [Nigeria Daily News (http://www.nigeriaplanet.tk)]
• Nigerian civil war
• History of Nigeria
• Demographics of Nigeria
• Military of Nigeria
• Communications in Nigeria
• Transportation in Nigeria
• Foreign relations of Nigeria
• List of Presidents of Nigeria
• Nigerian money transfer fraud
• Holidays in Nigeria

The Nigerian Civil War, 1967 – 1970, was an ethnic and political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the South-eastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed republic of Biafra. ... Italic textBefore the colonial period, the area which comprises modern Nigeria had an eventful history. ... The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria accounts for approximately one-quarter of West Africas people. ... Active duty personnel in the three Nigerian armed services total approximately 76,000. ... Telephones - main lines in use: 500,000 (2000) Telephones - mobile cellular: Recent deregulation of the mobile phone market has led to the introduction of major GSM mobile phone providers operating 900/1800 MHz spectrum, MTN Nigeria [1],V-Mobile[2], Globacom [3]and MTel[4]. Use of cell-phones have... Railways: total: 3,557 km narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1. ... Since independence, Nigerian foreign policy has been characterized by a focus on Africa and by attachment to several fundamental principles: African unity and independence; peaceful settlement of disputes; nonalignment and nonintentional interference in the internal affairs of other nations; and regional economic cooperation and development. ... This page contains a list of presidents and other heads of state of Nigeria since 1963. ... Advance fee fraud, often also known as the Nigerian money transfer fraud, Nigerian scam or 419 scam after the relevant section of the Nigerian Criminal Code [1] that it violates, is a fraudulent scheme to extract money from investors living in rich countries in Europe, Australia, or North America. ... Holidays in Nigeria Categories: Public holidays by country | Nigeria ...

Culture and religion

• [Nigeria Radio (http://www.nigeriaplanet.tk)]
• Music of Nigeria
• Catholic Church in Nigeria
• Yoruba Mythology
• Igbo mythology
• Islam in Nigeria
• Sharia

Fela Kuti remains probably the most well-known Nigerian musician, both at home and abroad Nigerian music has produced many kinds of folk and popular music, some of which are known throughout the world. ... The Catholic Church in Nigeria is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. ... The mythology of the Yorùbá is sometimes claimed by its supporters to be one of the worlds oldest widely practised religions. ... In the mythology of the Igbos ancient religion, the supreme god is called Chukwu (great spirit); he created the world and everything good in it, and is especially associated with rain, trees and other plants. ... Islam is a traditional religion in West Africa. ... Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ...

Ethnic groups

• Yoruba
• Igbo
• Hausa

The Yorùbá are the largest ethnic group in Nigeria, comprising approximately 26 percent of that countrys total population, and numbering about close to 100 million individuals throughout the region of West Africa. ... The Igbo are a group of people living in what is now Nigeria. ... The Hausa are a people of northern Nigeria and south-eastern Niger. ...

External links

• Nigerian Government website (http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/)
• Online Nigeria (http://www.onlinenigeria.com)
• Nigeria Web Portal (http://www.nigeriannation.com)
• Nigerian Newspapers (http://www.mediatico.com/en/newspapers/africa/nigeria/)
• Nairaland (a discussion forum for Nigerians) (http://www.nairaland.com)
• CIA World Factbook entry on Nigeria (http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ni.html)
• Library of Congress Country Study of Nigeria (http://countrystudies.us/nigeria/)

Pictures of Nigeria

• Pictures From Nigeria (http://www.nigeriaplanet.tk)
• Picture of Lagos (http://www.geocities.com/seelagos)
• Picture of Ibadan (http://www.geocities.com/seeibadan)
• Picture of Abuja (http://www.geocities.com/seelagos1)
• Picture of Kano (http://www.geocities.com/seekano1)
• Picture of other Nigeria cities (http://www.geocities.com/nigeriacities)
• More pictures (http://nigeriacom.cjb.net)
• Pictures From Nigeria (http://photogallery.nigeriannation.com/)