Discovering
Nigeria

Nigeria is a land of stories waiting to be told, of opportunities waiting to be seized, and of a future waiting to be built.

**Area:**
923,766 sq.km.

**Population:**
Approximately 186 million (estimate)

**Capital:**
Abuja

**Government:**
Three-tier structure: a Federal Government, 36 State Governments, and 774 Local Government Administrations.

**Official Language:**
English

**Main Indigenous Languages:**
Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba

**Main Religions:**
Christianity, Islam, Traditional beliefs

**Main Commercial/Industrial Cities:**
Lagos, Onitsha, Kano, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Aba, Maiduguri, Jos, Kaduna, Warri, Benin, Nnewi

**Major Industrial Complexes:**
– Refineries and Petrochemicals: Kaduna, Warri, Port Harcourt, Eleme
– Iron and Steel: Ajaokuta, Warri, Oshogbo, Katsina, Jos
– Fertilizer: Onne-Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Minna, Kano
– Liquefied Natural Gas, Aluminium Smelter: Ikot Abasi, Port Harcourt

**Main Ports:**
Lagos (Apapa, Tin-can Island), Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne Deep Sea and Hub Port, Calabar (EPZ)

**Main Airports:**
Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Ilorin, Jos, Owerri, Calabar, Yola, Sokoto

**Road Network:**
Over 15,000 km of intercity all-weather paved roads, including dual carriage express trunks.

**Railways:**
Two main lines (South-West to North-East; South-East to North-West) interlinked and terminating at Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaura Namoda, Maiduguri, and Nguru. Major junctions are located at Kaduna, Kafanchan, and Zaria. Gauge: 1067mm; Total length: 3,505 route km.

**Energy:**
– Hydro-electric: Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro
– Thermal and Gas: Egbin (Lagos), Ughelli, Afam, Sapele
– National grid for electricity distribution;
– National pipeline network with regional depots for petroleum product distribution;
– National gas distribution network (under construction)

**Currency:**
NAIRA and KOBO (N1.00 = 100 kobo)

**GEOGRAPHY**
Nigeria is located in the West African region, spanning longitudes 3 degrees to 14 degrees and latitudes 4 degrees to 14 degrees. It covers a land area of 923,768 sq.km. The country is bordered to the north by the Republics of Niger and Chad, shares a western border with the Republic of Benin, and has eastern borders with the Republic of Cameroon, extending to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, which defines Nigeria’s southern limits. With approximately 800 km of coastline, Nigeria has potential as a maritime power, and abundant land is available for agricultural, industrial, and commercial activities.

**CLIMATE**
The country’s temperatures are generally high, with little variation in seasonal and daily ranges (22-36°C). There are two primary seasons: the wet season from April to October and the dry season from November to March. The dry season is marked by Harmattan, a dry, chilly period lasting until February, characterized by lower temperatures and a dusty atmosphere caused by North-Easterly winds from the Arabian Peninsula across the Sahara. The second half of the dry season (February-March) is the hottest, with temperatures ranging from 33 to 38 degrees Celsius. The wet season’s extremes are most pronounced on the south-eastern coast, where annual rainfall can reach up to 330 cm, while the dry season’s extremes are felt in the northern regions with high temperatures and aridity.

**VEGETATION**
Reflecting the disparity in rainfall, Nigeria has two main vegetation types: Forests in the wetter south and Savanna in the drier north. Additionally, mountain vegetation is found in the isolated high plateau regions in the far east (Jos, Mambilla, Obudu). The savanna regions are significant producers of grains, grasses, tubers, vegetables, and cotton, while the tropical evergreen rainforest areas are known for timber, cassava, and fruit trees, including citrus, oil palm, cocoa, and rubber.

**POPULATION & LABOUR FORCE**
Nigeria is renowned for its large population of around 186 million people, the highest in Africa. This population comprises approximately 374 distinct ethnic groups, with the Hausa, Ibo, and Yoruba being the three largest, making up over 40% of the population. Notably, about 10 ethnic linguistic groups account for more than 80% of the population, including Tiv, Ibibio, Ijaw, Kanuri, Nupe, Gwari, Igala, Jukun, Idoma, Fulani, Edo, Urhobo, and Ijaw.

The education sector has seen significant growth in the last two decades, resulting in a workforce that includes a large number of highly trained professionals in various fields such as mechanical, civil, electrical, electronics, chemical, petroleum engineering, and biotechnology. Presently, Nigeria boasts over 30 Federal and State Universities, including specialized institutions in Technology and Agriculture, as well as at least 20 Federal and State Polytechnics. These institutions produce more than 70,000 graduates annually across diverse disciplines, including social sciences, business studies (management, banking, and finance), architecture, and environmental studies. Additionally, many Nigerians have pursued education abroad in prestigious institutions in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, Japan, and China, with around 2,000 returning home each year to seek employment.

For less skilled and unskilled labor, the country relies on primary and secondary education systems, with annual enrollments of about 3.5 million and 1.5 million, respectively.

**RESOURCES: AGRICULTURAL, MINERAL AND MARINE**
In addition to its large population, Nigeria is rich in agricultural, mineral, marine, and forest resources. Thanks to its diverse vegetation zones, abundant rainfall, and water resources, the country can produce a wide variety of food and cash crops. Over 60% of the population is engaged in food crop production, including cassava, maize, rice, yams, beans, soya, sorghum, ginger, onions, tomatoes, melons, and vegetables. Key cash crops include cocoa, cotton, groundnuts, oil palm, and rubber, which are processed for export and local industrial use, such as cocoa flour and butter, rubber crumb, vegetable oil, cotton fiber, and yarn. The rainforests have also been extensively utilized for timber and wood products from both exotic and native species.

Oil and gas, vital resources, are extracted from the Niger Delta basin and offshore areas in the continental shelf and deep-sea regions of Nigeria’s territorial waters. Additionally, significant non-oil resources have been identified and evaluated, including coal, iron ore, gypsum, kaolin, phosphates, limestone, marble, columbite, barite, and gold.

**GOVERNMENT**
The Federal Republic of Nigeria consists of thirty-six states, with Abuja serving as the administrative headquarters and capital city, located in the Federal Capital Territory at the geographical center of the country.

Effective participation in governance is ensured for all adults through the distribution of powers, revenue, and responsibilities among the three tiers of government: the Federal Government, State Governments, and various Local and Municipal Councils.

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Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Cotonou was established to enhance bilateral relations between Nigeria and Benin Republic. The two neighbouring African countries have since grown steadily in trade and mutual economic development. The Nigeria Embassy handles all diplomatic and consular affairs.

External Links

Contact Information

Embassy of Nigeria

Lot 196 Boulevard de la CENSAD, Marina B.P. 2019, Cotonou, Republic of Benin
Mon – Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
+229 62 16 48 48
nigembctn@ymail.com

Nigeria Embassy Cotonou