Nigeria

Mandara Mountains, Nigeria
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mandara_Mountains_from_Yola.jpg
Author: Leigh Bowden

Nigeria is a major country in West Africa. Covering 923,768 sq km (356,667 sq mi), Nigeria is bordered by Benin to the west, Niger to the north, Chad to the northeast, and Cameroon to the east. The country has a coastline facing the Gulf of Guinea to the south. With a population of 152 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, the 7th most populous country in the world. Its capital is Abuja while its largest city is Lagos.

Bida durbar festival, Nigeria
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Durbar_5.jpg
Author: Riki


Nigeria observes the West African Time Zone, which is an hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1), with no Daylight Saving Time. Traffic is driven on the right here. The electricity is 240V/50Hz using UK plug. The phone IDD code is +234.

In 2010, Nigeria had an estimated nominal GDP of $213.995 billion, equivalent to a per capita nominal GDP of $1,405. Its per capita GDP at purchasing power parity stood at $2,459. Nigeria is a major exporter of oil and since 2008, has one of the highest GDP growth rates in the world. Its GDP at purchasing power parity has nearby doubled from 2005 to 2007.

Abuja National Mosque, Nigeria
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AbujaNationalMosque.jpg
Author: Shiraz Chakera


Nigeria has been inhabited for over a thousand years, with recorded history beginning around AD 999. The earliest Europeans to explore it were the Portuguese and Spanish. Nigeria was a British protectorate from 1901 until 1 October, 1960, when it gained its independence from Britain.

Although the oil-rich Niger Delta provided billions of dollars in oil money in the 1970's, the wealth was squandered by corruption. The political landscape of the country remained turbulent with coups and abortive coups. Nigeria regained its democracy in 1999 with the election of Olusegun Obasanjo, who was reelected in 2003. In 2007, the Umaru Yar'Adua came to power under the People's Democratic Party. Although the elections have been condemned as unfair by international observers, the country has gradually shifted towards tackling corruption and hastening development.

Planning your visit to Nigeria

Most visitors need a visa to enter Nigeria. This has to be obtained from a Nigerian embassy prior to arrival. The international airports in Nigeria are located in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) in Lagos is the biggest in the country and is the base for national flag carriers Air Nigeria and Arik Air. You can fly to Lagos from London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and Istanbul, among others.

Major Cities in Nigeria

Places of Interest in Nigeria

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About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.