Travel warning is issued for traveling to Nigeria. For more information please visit U.S. Department of State
Last Minute Tips Before you Travel to Nigeria
- Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1
- Electricity: 240V, 50 Hz (bring an adapter/transformer for your hair drier, laptop, cellullar phone etc.)
- Currency: Naira (N)
- Country Dialing Code: 234
Must See - Properties on UNESCO World Heritage List by
- Sukur Cultural Landscape
- Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
Nigeria
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Capital
Abuja; note - on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially transferred from Lagos to Abuja; most federal government offices have now moved to Abuja
Population
128,771,988
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)
Regions
36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Climate
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain:
Ethnic groups
Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
Religions
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Government type
federal republic
Background
Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The president faces the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, the OBASANJO administration must defuse longstanding ethnic and religious tensions, if it is to build a sound foundation for economic growth and political stability. Although the April 2003 elections were marred by some irregularities, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence.
Visitor's Impressions
If you would like to share your experiences of traveling to Nigeria or to other countries, please send us your article and we will gladly post it at this site.
