[228] On lower levels of society, there are the "area boys", organised gangs mostly active in Lagos who specialise in mugging and small-scale drug dealing. French may also be mixed with English as it is in Cameroon. Many of the languages exist in written form. In the middle of the 19th century, a number of ex-slaves of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian descent[186] and emigrants from Sierra Leone established communities in Lagos and other regions of Nigeria. [71], General Buhari was overthrown in 1985 military coup d'état led by General Ibrahim Babangida, who established the Armed Forces Ruling Council and became military president and commander in chief of the armed forces. All five parties won representation in the National Assembly. The main Muslim and Christian festivals are often celebrated in ways that are unique to Nigeria or unique to the people of a locality. In 1903, the British-victory in the Battle of Kano gave them a logistical edge in pacifying the heartland of the Sokoto Caliphate and parts of the former Bornu Empire. The railways have undergone a massive revamping with projects such as the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Railway being completed connecting northern cities of Kano, Kaduna, Abuja, Ibadan and Lagos. [153] Ogun is considered to be Nigeria's current industrial hub, as most factories are located in Ogun and more companies are moving there, followed by Lagos. The area near the border with Cameroon close to the coast is rich rainforest and part of the Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests ecoregion, an important centre for biodiversity. In 2004, the IUCN–World Conservation Union identified 81 IAS in South Africa, 49 in Mauritius, 37 in Algeria and Madagascar, 35 in Kenya, 28 in Egypt, 26 in Ghana and Zimbabwe, and 22 in Ethiopia. [223] The government has majority control of university education. [224] Students with required documents[225] typically enter university from age 17–18 onwards and study for an academic degree. In 1999, those states chose to have Sharia courts as well as Customary courts. Some of the largest of these, notably Yoruba and Igbo, have derived standardised languages from a number of different dialects and are widely spoken by those ethnic groups. Colonel Emeka Ojukwu declared the region independent from the federation as a state called the Republic of Biafra, under his leadership. Most of the energy comes from traditional biomass and waste, which account for 83% of total primary production. [226] Various Nigerian confraternities or student "campus cults" are active in both organised crime and in political violence as well as providing a network of corruption within Nigeria. [285], In the early 1990s, Scrabble was made an official sport in Nigeria. In November 2008, Nigeria's music scene (and that of Africa) received international attention when MTV hosted the continent's first African music awards show in Abuja. Types Of Crimes By Number Of Offenses In The US, The 10 Biggest Shopping Malls In The World. His successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, adopted a new constitution on 5 May 1999 which provided for multiparty elections. [267], Muhammad al-Amin al-Kanemi, the Shehu of Borno. Nigeria shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north, and borders the Gulf of Guinea with the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and Equatorial Guinea in the south. [171] Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and accounts for about 17% of the continent's total population as of 2017; however, exactly how populous is a subject of speculation. The UNHCR representative said in 20 years of work, she had "never seen such a level of destruction". Under a law signed in early 2014,[266] same-sex couples who marry face up to 14 years each in prison. The 1963 census indicated that 47% of Nigerians were Muslim, 34% Christian, and 18% members of local indigenous religions. "Gender Self-Endangering: The Sexist Issue in Nigerian Politics". [282] Ajayi, Kunle (2007). [93] In 2012, Nigeria was estimated to have lost over $400 billion to corruption since independence. [175] By 2100 the UN estimates that the Nigerian population will be between 505 million and 1.03 billion people (middle estimate: 730 million). Nelson, P.H.H., Role of Reflection Seismic in Development of Nembe Creek Field, Nigeria, 1980, in Giant Oil and Gas Fields of the Decade: 1968–1978, AAPG Memoir 30, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists. [264] According to 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center, 98% of Nigerians believe homosexuality should not be accepted by society.[265]. Nigeria also supported several Pan-African and pro-self government causes in the 1970s, including garnering support for Angola's MPLA, SWAPO in Namibia, and aiding opposition to the minority governments of Portuguese Mozambique, and Rhodesia. [78] This ended almost 33 years of military rule from 1966 until 1999, excluding the short-lived second republic (between 1979 and 1983) by military dictators who seized power in coups d'état and counter-coups during the Nigerian military juntas of 1966–1979 and 1983–1999. Nigeria provides free, government-supported education, but attendance is not compulsory at any level, and certain groups, such as nomads and the handicapped, are under-served. Nigeria is also involved in other sports such as basketball, cricket and track and field. Herder—farmer conflict in central Nigeria, violent protests by Muslims in the Northern part of the country, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2020 – Nigeria", "Nigeria's Buhari wins historic election landslide", "Linguistic diversity in Africa and Europe – Languages Of The World", "Choosing an Indigenous Official Language for Nigeria", "The countries with the 10 largest Christian populations and the 10 largest Muslim populations", "Perceptions of Corruption in Nigeria Remain High, According to NGO", "Nok Terracottas (500 B.C.–200 A.D.) | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art", "Iron and its influence on the prehistoric site of Lejja", "Nigeria: A Country Study – The Slave Trade", "Slow death slavery course abolition northern Nigeria 18971936 | Regional history after 1500", "Wiwa et al v. Royal Dutch Petroleum et al", "Ruling party named winner in disputed Nigerian election", "Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan sworn in as president", "National Assembly confirms Sambo as Vice President", "Nigerians Vote in Presidential Election", "Nigeria election: Muhammadu Buhari wins", "Obama praises Nigeria's president for conceding defeat", "APC praises Jonathan for conceding defeat", "Anyaoku Praises Jonathan For Conceding Defeat", "Buhari beats Atiku to secure re-election as Nigeria president", "Legislation and the Electoral Process: The Third Term Agenda and the Future of Nigerian Democracy", "Nigeria has lost $400bn oil revenue to corruption since Independence – Ezekwesili", "Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: The Realities of Regionalism", "Collins Edomaruse, how Obasanjo cut UK, US to size", "Egbe Omo Yoruba, National Association of Yoruba descendants in North America", "Which Countries Are For or Against China's Xinjiang Policies? Nigeria has been home to several indigenous pre-colonial states and kingdoms since the second millennium (BC), with the Nok Civilization having been the first time the country had been unified internally in the 15th Century B.C. [169] As of 2017, the population stood at 191 million. [178][better source needed] Presently, Nigeria is the seventh most populous country in the world. NORTH-WEST: Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara; NORTH-CENTRAL: Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger, Plateau; NORTH-EAST: Adamawa, Bauchi, Bornue, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe. EDO RELIGION EDO RELIGION . Sahel savannah consists of patches of grass and sand, found in the northeast. However, studies have also investigated the growth of indigenous trees in with that of exotic species. The capital of Nigeria is Abuja and Lagos is the country’s largest city. Both sites are planned to house two plants each. Although the elections that brought Obasanjo to power in the 1999 presidential election and for a second term in the 2003 presidential election were condemned as unfree and unfair, Nigeria has shown marked improvements in attempts to tackle government corruption and hasten development. As oil production and revenue rose, the Nigerian government became increasingly dependent on oil revenues and international commodity markets for budgetary and economic concerns. [119] To the southwest of the Niger is "rugged" highland. [122] However, very little is known about IAS in Nigeria, with most technical reports and literatures reporting fewer than 10 invasive plants in the country. Nigeria's national basketball team made the headlines internationally when it qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics as it beat heavily favoured world elite teams such as Greece and Lithuania. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the company had vastly succeeded in subjugating the independent southern kingdoms along the Niger River, the British conquered Benin in 1897, and, in the Anglo-Aro War (1901–1902), defeated other opponents. [277], There are many festivals in Nigeria, some of which date to the period before the arrival of the major religions in this ethnically and culturally diverse society. Kajuru Castle 13 Castles. A number of Cubans settled in Nigeria as political refugees following the Cuban Revolution. [144] Despite huge deposits of these natural resources, the mining industry in Nigeria is still in its infancy. The president is both head of state and head of the federal government; the leader is elected by popular vote to a maximum of two four-year terms. The Nigerian government has commissioned the overseas production and launch of four satellites. Lagos, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, is the largest city in Nigeria and the continent of Africa. muddled waters of religion and state making in Nigeria. Nigeria's most expansive topographical region is that of the valleys of the Niger and Benue river valleys (which merge and form a Y-shape). On March 13, 1903, at the grand market square of Sokoto, the last Vizier of the Caliphate officially conceded to British rule. [73], The 1993 presidential election held on June 12, the first since the military coup of 1983. [92], Ethnocentrism, tribalism, religious persecution, and prebendalism have plagued Nigerian politics both prior and subsequent to independence in 1960. Lagos is the largest city in Africa, with a population of over 12 million in its urban area.[115]. [45] Some children of the southern elite went to Great Britain to pursue higher education. Administratively, Nigeria remained divided into the Northern and Southern Protectorates and Lagos Colony. Babangida survived the 1990 Nigerian coup d'état attempt, then postponed a promised return to democracy to 1992. These are in addition to several ex-situ conservation sites such as arboreta, botanical gardens, zoological gardens, and gene banks managed by several tertiary and research institutions[124], In the semi-arid and dry sub-humid savanna's of West Africa, including Nigeria, numerous species of herbaceous dicots especially from the genera Crotalaria, Alysicarpus, Cassia and Ipomea are known to be widely used in livestock production. Abuja is home to several parks and green areas. Nigeria's human rights record remains poor. Nigeria Religion, Economy and Politics. [147] Lagos is regarded as one of the largest technology hubs in Africa with its thriving tech ecosysytem. [245], Nigeria is a state party of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women[246] It also has signed Maputo Protocol, an international treaty on women's rights, and the African Union Women's Rights Framework. [96] Following the bloody civil war, nationalism has seen an increase in the southern part of the country leading to active secessionist movements such as the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), though these groups are largely small and not representative of the entire ethnic group. [199] However, these estimates should be taken with caution because sample data is mostly collected from major urban areas in the south, which are predominantly Christian. In the period before 1983 election, a report of experts prepared by the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies showed that only the 1959 and 1979 elections were held without systematic rigging. [176] In 1950, Nigeria had only 33 million people. [117] Nigeria lies between latitudes 4° and 14°N, and longitudes 2° and 15°E. [109], Continuing its Africa-centered foreign policy, Nigeria introduced the Idea of a single currency for West Africa known as the Eco under the presumption that it would be led by the Naira, but on December 21, 2019; Ivorian President Alassane OuattaraI along with Emmanuel Macron multiple other UEMOA States, announced that they would merely rename the CFA Franc (the current currency of the UEMOA states) instead of completely replacing the currency as originally intended. Boundaries are based on Natural Earth, August, 2011 modified to match provinces in the World Religion Database. [211], Health care delivery in Nigeria is a concurrent responsibility of the three tiers of government in the country, and the private sector. Owobi Angrew, "Tiptoeing Through A Constitutional Minefield: The Great Sharia Controversy in Nigeria", Rais Akhtar; Health Care Patterns and Planning in Developing Countries, Greenwood Press, 1991. p. 264. In 1995 the government hanged environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa on trumped-up charges in the deaths of four Ogoni elders. This plateau extends through the border with Cameroon, where the montane land is part of the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons", "The Economic Development of Nigeria from 1914 to 2014", "Nigcomsat-1 Program --- In-Orbit Delivery Program --- Communications Satellite --- CGWIC", "Nigcomsat-1 Program – In-Orbit Delivery Program – Communications Satellite", United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan urges birth control, "World Population TO INCREASE BY 2.6 BILLION OVER NEXT 45 YEARS, WITH ALL GROWTH OCCURRING IN LESS DEVELOPED REGIONS", "Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat", "The Demographic Divide: What It Is and Why It Matters", "The 10 Most Populated Countries in Africa", "China and Africa: Stronger Economic Ties Mean More Migration", "Why white Zimbabwean farmers plan to stay in Nigeria", "Africa :: Nigeria — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency", "Percentages By Religion of the 1952 and 1963 Populations of Nigeria's Present 36 States", "Kano Seeks Supremacy of Sharia Over Constitution", "Table: Religious Composition by Country, in Percentages", "The Future of the Global Muslim Population", "Table: Christian Population in Numbers by Country | Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project", "Nigeria: a secular or multi religious state – 2", "The Middle Belt Movement and the Formation of Christian Consciousness in Colonial Northern Nigeria. The vast landlocked empire connected the East with the West Sudan region and made inroads down south conquering parts of the Oyo Empire (modern-day Kwara), and advanced towards the Yoruba heartland of Ibadan, with the goal of reaching the Atlantic Ocean. [252] Maternal mortality was at 814 per 100,000 live births in 2015. Another portion of the bill mandates 10 years in prison for those found guilty of organising, operating or supporting gay clubs, organizations and meetings. In April 1994, the Super Eagles ranked 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, the highest ranking achieved by an African football team. [251] Submission of the wife to her husband and domestic violence are common. Nigeria's mixed economy is the largest in Africa, the 26th-largest in the world by nominal GDP, and 25th-largest by PPP. The 2009 thriller film The Figurine is generally considered the game changer, which heightened the media attention towards New Nigerian Cinema revolution. By independence in 1960, regional differences in modern educational access were marked. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa 27.4% of the population; along with the Yoruba 21% and Igbo 18%. The far south is defined by its tropical rainforest climate, where annual rainfall is 60 to 80 inches (1,500 to 2,000 mm) a year. It was coordinated by key officers of the Nigerian military and led to the overthrow of the Second Nigerian Republic and the installation of Major General Muhammadu Buhari as Head of State. Football is largely considered Nigeria's national sport and the country has its own Premier League of football. The main rivers are the Niger and the Benue, which converge and empty into the Niger Delta. [110] As of 2020, the Eco currency has been delayed to 2025. But nowadays with more education available to the public, Nigerian women are taking steps to have more active roles in the public, and with the help of different initiatives, more businesses are being started by women. Hausa was an official language of the northern states from 1951 to 1967. The remaining 1.9% are either practitioners of indigenous religions or no affiliations. This estimate varies, however, and there are though to be between 2 and 4 million Nigerian members of the Shia faith. Many different spices, herbs, and flavourings are used in conjunction with palm oil or groundnut oil to create deeply flavoured sauces and soups often made very hot with chili peppers. This remnant became known as "Sokoto Sultanate Council". The empire with Arabic as its official language grew rapidly under his rule and that of his descendants, who sent out invading armies in every direction. [159][160] The city of Aba in the south-eastern part of the country are well known for their handicrafts and shoes, known as "Aba made".[161]. The majority belong to the Maliki school of jurisprudence while a minority belong to the Shafi madhhab. Nigeria retains membership in the Non-Aligned Movement. Traditionally, the Igbo lived in villages or village-groups surrounded by their farms. INTRODUCTION At nearly million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country The Senate is a 109-seat body with three members from each state and one from the capital region of Abuja; members are elected by popular vote to four-year terms. Forced marriages are common. There has subsequently been a period of relative harmony[when?] It contributed about 1.4% to Nigeria's economy; this was attributed to the increase in the number of quality films produced and more formal distribution methods. Its economy is the largest in Africa, the 26th-largest in the world by nominal GDP, and 25th-largest by PPP. [105], Since 2000, Sino-Nigerian trade relations have risen exponentially. Waste management including sewage treatment, the linked processes of deforestation and soil degradation, and climate change or global warming are the major environmental problems in Nigeria. [citation needed], As of 2010[update], about 30% of Nigerians are employed in agriculture. [259] Women throughout the country were only politically emancipated in 1979. Lagos has grown from about 300,000 in 1950[179] to an estimated 13.4 million in 2017. The northern part of the country then became larger than the southern part. ", "Nigeria now generates 13,000mw of power, says Minister – Chukwuma", "Chapter XXVI: Disarmament – No. Invasive Alien Species. In 2003, the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (or EFCC) was created, ostensibly to combat this and other forms of organised financial crime.[231]. Concord Press, Ikeja, Lagos. [140] In June 2013, Shell announced a strategic review of its operations in Nigeria, hinting that assets could be divested. There are also Ahmadiyya and Mahdiyya minorities,[195] as well as followers of the Baháʼí Faith. Islam dominates North Western (Hausa, Fulani and others) and a good portion of Northern Eastern (Kanuri, Fulani and other groups) Nigeria. [203] [118] In the southeast stands the Obudu Plateau. As the British approached the city of Sokoto, the new Sultan Muhammadu Attahiru I organized a quick defense of the city and fought the advancing British-led forces. The results of the most recent census were released in December 2006 and gave a population of 140,003,542. It is a lower-middle-income economy,[132] with its abundant supply of natural resources, well-developed financial, legal, communications, transport sectors and stock exchange (the Nigerian Stock Exchange), which is the second-largest in Africa. National census results in the past few decades have been disputed. As in many other African societies, prebendalism and high rates of corruption continue to constitute major challenges to Nigeria. B.E.B. The 30-month war, with a long siege of Biafra and its isolation from trade and supplies, ended in January 1970. The first coup was in January 1966 and was led mostly by Igbo soldiers under Majors Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. There were also uncertainties, such as in the first republic, that political leaders may be unable to govern properly which would bring another batch of new military rulers. [260] Yet husbands continue to dictate the votes for many women in Nigeria, which upholds the patriarchal system.[261]. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2021 worldatlas.com, Religious Beliefs In The United Kingdom (Great Britain), 10 Countries Where Women Far Outnumber Men, The Most Famous Serial Killers In America And Their Twisted Crimes. [138], Nigeria is the 12th largest producer of petroleum in the world and the 8th largest exporter, and has the 10th largest proven reserves. Nigerian film studios are based in Lagos, Kano and Enugu, forming a major portion of the local economy of these cities. The neighbouring Niger takes its name from the same river. The pidgin English or Nigerian English is widely spoken within the Niger Delta Regions, predominantly in Warri, Sapele, Port Harcourt, Agenebode, Ewu, and Benin City. [108] Subsequently, Nigeria's economy is becoming over-reliant on cheap foreign imports to sustain itself, resulting in a clear decline in Nigerian Industry under such arrangements. Imbalances between North and South were expressed in Nigeria's political life as well. Ahmadi Islam also is present in Nigeria, with around 1.5% of Nigeria’s population as adherents. Nigeria has a varied landscape. Today, Nigeria has become the most populous country in Africa, with a population of up to […] List of Best Religion in Lagos, Nigeria, Top Religion in Lagos, Nigeria, Religion Near Me, Best Religion. Sign in Add Business. [124], Many other species native to Nigeria, including Soybean and its varieties, serve as an important source of oil and protein in this region. Various juntas have seized control of the country and ruled it through most of its history. The word is likely an alteration of the Tuareg name egerew n-igerewen used by inhabitants along the middle reaches of the river around Timbuktu prior to 19th-century European colonialism.[20][21]. In 1864, Samuel Ajayi Crowther became the first African bishop of the Anglican Church.[43]. As of 2014, the industry was worth ₦853.9 billion (US$5.1 billion) making it the third most valuable film industry in the world, behind the United States and India. In June 2015, Nigeria selected two sites for the planned construction of the nuclear plants. Other Nigerian writers and poets who are well known internationally include John Pepper Clark, Ben Okri, Cyprian Ekwensi, Buchi Emecheta, Helon Habila, T. M. Aluko, Isaac Delano, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Daniel O. Fagunwa, Femi Osofisan and Ken Saro Wiwa, who was executed in 1995 by the military regime. [citation needed] There are also many plants with medicinal purposes that are used to aid the therapy in many organs. Jonathan was generally praised for conceding defeat and limiting the risk of unrest. The area of southern Nigeria between the Niger and the Cross Rivers has lost most of its forest because of development and harvesting by increased population, with it being replaced by grassland (see Cross-Niger transition forests). [193] Kano State has sought to incorporate Sharia law into its constitution. [232] Nigeria was ranked 143 out of 182 countries in Transparency International's 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index; however, it improved to 136th position in 2014. It was a trust in nature and animism that projected itself in giving strength and value to that worshiper. To the southeast of the Benue are hills and mountains, which form the Mambilla Plateau, the highest plateau in Nigeria. [129] Nigeria had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.2/10, ranking it 82nd globally out of 172 countries.[130]. Many French speakers from surrounding countries have influenced the English spoken in the border regions of Nigeria and some Nigerian citizens have become fluent enough in French to work in the surrounding countries. [48] An imbalance was created in the polity by the result of the 1961 plebiscite. SOUTH-SOUTH: Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers; [50][51] This declaration precipitated the Nigerian Civil War, which began as the official Nigerian government side attacked Biafra on 6 July 1967 at Garkem. There are small minorities of British, American, Indian, Chinese (est. Both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism are observed in the Ibibio, Annang, Efik, Ijo and Ogoni lands of the south. The Nigerian Military consists of an army, a navy, and an air force. Fuji music, a Yoruba percussion style, was created and popularised by Mr. Fuji, Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister.