Nigeria (pronounced /naɪˈdʒɪrɪə/), officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Capital Territory. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Beninin the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast lies on the Gulf of Guinea, a part of the Atlantic Ocean, in the south. The capital city is Abuja. The three largest and most influential ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa, Igbo andYoruba.

The people of Nigeria have an extensive history, and archaeological evidence shows that human habitation of the area dates back to at least 9000 BC.^[3] The Benue-Cross River area is thought to be the original homeland of the Bantu migrants who spread across most of central and southern Africa in waves between the 1st millennium BC and the 2nd millennium.

The name Nigeria was taken from the River Niger running through Nigeria. This name was coined by Flora Shaw, the future wife ofBaron Lugard, a British colonial administrator, in the late 19th century.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the eighth most populous country in the world, and with a population of over 150 million it is the most populous ‘black’ country in the world. It is a regional power, is listed among the “Next Eleven” economies, and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The economy of Nigeria is one of the fastest growing in the world, with theInternational Monetary Fund projecting a growth of 9% in 2008 and 8.3% in 2009.

Facts

Full name: The Federal Republic of Nigeria

Population: 151.5 million (UN, 2008)

Capital: Abuja

Largest city: Lagos

Area: 923,768 sq km (356,669 sq miles)

Major languages: English (official), Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa

Major religions: Islam, Christianity, indigenous beliefs

Life expectancy: 46 years (men), 47 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: 1 Nigerian naira = 100 kobo

Main exports: Petroleum, petroleum products, cocoa, rubber

GNI per capita: US $930 (World Bank, 2007)

Internet domain: .ng

International dialling code: +234