Overview of Nigeria:

Nigeria is located in Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between the countries of Benin and Cameroon. The country has a total land mass of 923,768 square kilometers, which comprises of 13,000 square kilometers of water and 910,768 square kilometers of land. The climate varies from equatorial in the south of Nigeria, to tropical in the center of the country, and arid in northern Nigeria.

Nigeria is by far the most populated of African countries.  In 2003, Nigeria had an estimated population was 133,881,703, yielding an average density of 145 persons per sq km (375 per sq mi). The economy has been dominated by the production of petroleum, which lies in large reserves below the Niger Delta. Its many ethnic groups give the country a rich culture.   Nigeria 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%. The estimated age structure of Nigeria in 2002 was that 43.6% of the population (male 28,503,211, and female 28,156,976) was in the 0-14 (years) age bracket. The 15-64 (years) age bracket comprised 53.6% of the population (male 35,418,119, and female 34,179,802) and those that were 65 years and over comprised 2.8% of the population (male 1,832,682, and female 1,844,121)

The Literacy rate of the total population was projected to be 57.1% in 1995, and has since improved significantly. The oil sector of Nigeria provides 20% of GDP, and 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues. Nigeria is the fifth largest source of United States oil imports, and one of the world's largest oil exporters. Other industries in Nigeria include: coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, ceramics, and steel.

Other Information about Nigeria:

Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom on October 1, 1960. The country's legal system is based on English common law, native law, and Islamic law in some northern states of Nigeria. Suffrage is 18 years of age and universal.

Nigeria currently has a total of 36 states, and Abuja (administered as the) Federal Capital Territory. The government has a three-tier structure: Federal Government, 36 State Governments, and 774 Local Government Administrations.

The states in Nigeria are: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.

The major commercial/industrial cities in Nigeria are: Aba, Benin, Ibadan, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Maiduguri, Nnewi, Port Harcourt, and Warri. The locations of major airports in Nigeria are: Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. The locations of main seaports in Nigeria are: Calabar, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Warri.

Approximately 250 ethnic groups of different sizes with a broad spectrum of languages, cultures, and aspirations live in Nigeria. Four ethnic groups account for over 60% of the country's total population: the Fulani and Hausa in the north, the Igbo in the east, and the Yoruba in the southwest. The Hausa and Fulani comprise 29% of the population of Nigeria, Yoruba comprise 21% of the population, Igbo (Ibo) comprise 18% of the population, and other ethnic groups comprise 32% of the population.

English is the official language of Nigeria. There are hundreds of local languages. Hausa is the dominant language in the Northern Nigeria. Yoruba is the dominant language in the Western Nigeria. Igbo is the dominant language in the Eastern Nigeria.

The main religions are Christianity, Islam, and African traditional religions. Muslims comprise 50% of the population of Nigeria, Christians comprise 40% of the population, and African traditional religion practitioners account for 10% of the population.