Federal Republic of Nigeria: government structure, capital, population. Federal Republic of Nigeria: government structure, capital, population Useful information for tourists

The climate throughout almost the entire territory of Nigeria is equatorial, monsoon. Average annual temperatures everywhere exceed 25 °C. In the north, the hottest months are March–June, in the south it is April, when temperatures reach 30–32 °C, and the rainiest and coolest month is August. Largest quantity precipitation (up to 4000 mm per year) falls in the Niger Delta, in the central part of the country - 1000–1400 mm, and in the extreme northeast - only 500 mm. The driest period is winter, when the harmattan wind blows from the northeast, bringing daytime heat and sharp daily temperature changes (during the day the air warms up to 40 °C or more, and at night the temperature drops to 10 °C).

Nature

The Niger River with its Benue tributary divides the country's territory into two parts: to the south of their valleys, most of the territory is occupied by the Maritime Plain, to the north there are low plateaus. The coastal plain is formed by river sediments and stretches for hundreds of kilometers from west to east.

To the north, the terrain gradually rises and turns into stepped plateaus (Yoruba, Udi, Jos, etc.) with heights in the central part up to 2042 m (Vogel Peak on the Shebshi Plateau) and numerous outlier rocks that rise in bizarre columns above the hilly surface of the plateau. In the northwest the plateaus merge into the Sokoto Plain (basin of the river of the same name), and in the northeast - into the Bornu Plain.

Nigeria is a country of forests and savannas. Once wet rainforests occupied most of its territory, but cuttings and burning for crops reduced their area. Now tropical forests with trees entwined with vines up to 45 m high are common only on the Primorsky Plain and in river valleys. In the north of the forest zone, where there is less rainfall (up to 1600 mm), widespread deciduous dry tropical forests. Almost half of the country's territory is occupied by tall grass (wet guinea) savanna alternating with areas of park savannas (with rare trees - kaya, isoberlinia, mitragyna).

During the rainy season, tall grasses can cover not only humans, but also large animals. During the dry season, the savanna looks lifeless and burnt out. North of the zone The tall-grass savannah extends into the dry Sudanese savannah with characteristic umbrella acacias, baobabs and thorny bushes. In the extreme northeast of the country, where rain is a rarity, lies the so-called Sahel savannah with sparse vegetation. And only on the shores of Lake Chad the picture changes dramatically: here is a kingdom of lush greenery, thickets of reeds and papyrus.

Just as diverse and animal world Nigeria, especially well preserved in national parks and nature reserves (in particular, in the Yankari Nature Reserve, on the Bauchi Plateau). Elephants, giraffes, rhinoceroses, leopards, hyenas, and numerous antelopes are widespread (including the forest dwarf antelope dik-dik, weighing no more than 3 kg), there are large herds of buffalo, and in some places the scaly anteater, chimpanzee and even gorilla are preserved, not to mention monkeys, baboons, and lemurs. The world of birds is bright and rich in forests, savannas, especially along river banks.

Population

Among Nigeria's 190 million people, there are more than 200 different nationalities speaking different languages. The most numerous are the Ibo peoples (or Igbo), Yorubo, Hausa, Edo, Ibibio, Tiv. The traditional culture of the country, the clothing and way of life of its inhabitants are equally diverse, which, along with the exotic nature, is the main attraction of Nigeria. Colored mats, calabashes, homespun clothes, wood and bronze items are readily purchased by tourists.

Big cities

In Nigeria there are a lot of relatively major cities, although many of them resemble huge villages in appearance. The capital of the country, Lagos, with a population of more than a million, was founded by Europeans four hundred years ago. Now it is a modern city, major port and industrial center. There is a university here, ethnographic and archaeological museums, comfortable hotels. Ibadan (about 1.3 million inhabitants) - main city the Yoruba people, excellent weavers and metal and wood carvers. Ibadan arose in the 18th century; the fortress walls have been preserved in the old part of the city. Benin City preserves ancient traditions: the numerous Religious holidays. Ife is a famous center of African art; bronze and terracotta products are especially interesting, ancient examples of which are kept in the local museum. In the north of the country, the city of Kano, which has existed for more than a thousand years, is interesting with a grandiose mosque and the ancient palace of the emir (Kano residents practice Islam) and a bazaar famous throughout Africa. Other major cities are Port Harcourt, Aba, Enugu, Onicha, Calabar, Zaria, Kaduna, Katsina, Ilorin, Maiduguri, Jos. Some of them were built relatively recently, others have a centuries-old history.

Economy

Nigeria belongs to the group poorest countries peace. The basis of the economy is the oil industry (85% of foreign exchange earnings – 2005). There is a significant scale of “shadow” business. About 60% of the population is below the poverty line. GDP per capita in 2005 was $390 (according to the World Bank (WB).

Story

Many of the modern peoples of Nigeria migrated to its territory from the north 4 thousand years ago. Around 2000 BC. the majority of the autochthonous population adopted some farming and animal domestication skills from the newcomers. The transition to settled agriculture entailed the creation of permanent settlements that served as protection from external enemies. It was in such villages that the creators of the city dating back to 2000 BC lived. Nok culture. Numerous evidence discovered in the North allows us to conclude that the people of the Nok culture were familiar with the technology of smelting and processing tin and iron. These skills allowed them not only to revolutionize agricultural production, but also to begin making weapons with which they conquered territories and created larger political entities.

The first large centralized state on the territory of Northern Nigeria was Kanem-Bornu, the emergence of which dates back to the end of the 8th century. AD It was originally located outside of modern Nigeria, north of Lake. Chad, but then quickly expanded its borders south into Bornu territory. By the 13th century. Kanem-Bornu was known in Egypt, Tunisia and Fezzan. The basis of the state's well-being was its intermediary role in the trans-Saharan trade in salt, beads, fabrics, swords, horses and European goods from North Africa, which were exchanged for ivory and slaves. To the west, the states of Katsina and Kano, competitors of Kanem-Bornu in the trans-Saharan trade, were the most significant of the seven Hausa states that emerged at different times in the early 2nd millennium AD. Other Hausa states were Daura, Gobir, Rano, Biram and Zaria, the latter being a major supplier of slaves. Despite the legend of descent from the same ancestor and the similarity of cultural traditions, the Hausa states developed autonomously and sometimes even fought with each other. Kano and most of the eastern Hausan lands were tributaries of Kanema-Bornu.

Both Kanem-Bornu and the Hausa states had a well-functioning system of government, the population regularly paid taxes, and there was a standing army, the striking force of which was cavalry. By the 15th century Islam, brought here through the desert by Muslim traders, strengthened in the states of this region. Since the 12th century. all the Mai, the rulers of Bornu, were Muslims. The influence of Islam in the Hausa states affected the system of government and justice, and also contributed to the creation of a Muslim elite.

In the first two decades of the 16th century. great empire Songhai, which sought to establish control over all the Hausa states, made Kano and Katsina tributaries. In 1516–1517, the Songhai vassal Kanta, the ruler of Kebbi, after attacking the state of Air, declared himself a sovereign ruler and subjugated all the Hausa lands. This caused Kanta's conflict with the Bornu ruler, and he defeated the Bornu army twice. After Kanta's death in 1526, the Hausa alliance collapsed, and the threat to Bornu's western borders disappeared.

Around 1483, after two centuries of internal strife, the capital of Kanema-Bornu was moved to Ngazargama in what is now Nigeria. In the 16th century Kanem-Bornu strengthened its position and after the collapse of the Songhai Empire as a result of the invasion of Moroccan troops in 1591, it became the most powerful state in Western Sudan. The apogee of the development of this state occurred during the reign of Mai Idris Aluma (d. 1617), known as an Islamic reformer and a skilled military leader.

The disunity of the Hausa states continued throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. During this period, their main rivals were the states of Nupe, Borgu and Quororofa located to the south.

In the southern part of modern Nigeria, two great empires flourished, Oyo and Benin. The state apparatus of these empires was as developed and well-functioning as that of the states of the North, but forests made contact with the outside world difficult, and horses could not be used because of the tsetse fly.

The founders of the dynasties that ruled in Oyo and Benin came from Ife, which became world famous thanks to bronze and terracotta items discovered on its territory. Benin already existed as a state entity when its rulers invited Prince Ife Oranyan to the kingdom, who became the founder of the dynasty of kings of Benin. Faced with difficulties in governing Benin, Oranyan handed over power to his son, born of a Benin woman, and settled in Oyo.

By the 17th century Oyo rulers managed to establish control over for the most part Yoruba and Dahomey. The power of the Alafin, the ruler of Oyo, was directly dependent on the combat effectiveness of his large regular army. Oyo's tributary states were governed by local rulers who were controlled by a permanent representative, the Alaafin. In the 18th century Oyo was faced with the problem of maintaining its power over the vassal states, most notably Dahomey. The situation was complicated by the internal struggle for power that was waged between the Alafin and his council, headed by the Bashorun.

Oyo sought to expand its influence westward, and the kings of Benin were interested in the areas south and east of the river. Niger. At the end of the 15th century, when the Portuguese explorer d'Aveiro visited here (1486) , Benin was at the zenith of its power. The state had a complexly organized administrative apparatus, a large regular army and a highly developed art of bronze casting. The Portuguese began trading relations with Benin by purchasing pepper, but soon switched to trading slaves. For a long time, slaves became objects of sale and purchase in Benin and along the rest of the coast.

Benin had everything necessary for the slave trade. His army conquered neighboring nations, and his captives were sold to European slave traders. Before the slave trade began, there were no centralized states on the east coast. The few Ijaw fishing communities in the Niger Delta supplied the Ibo and Ibibio of the interior with salt and dried fish in exchange for vegetables and tools. However, during the slave trade, some of the fishing settlements grew into small city-states. The prosperity of the state of Bonny, New Calabar and Okrika was based on the exchange of imported European goods - textiles, metalwork, tools, cheap salt, which was used as ballast in ships, and dried fish from Norway - for slaves and vegetables from the interior. Even further to the east, in the upper reaches of the Cross River, the Efik, for the convenience of trade with Europeans, created a union of cities known as Old Calabar.

The main supplier of slaves was the Aro, one of the Ibo groups. Using their control over the widely feared Aro-Chukwu oracle, the Aro could move freely throughout Ibo territory, and other Ibos did not feel safe outside their home village or alliance of villages. By bringing trade under their control and gaining access to European goods, the Aro strengthened their position as priest-traders. Slaves came not only from the immediate interior, but also from areas downstream of the Niger and Benue. Africans controlled the slaves until they were brought to the coast, where they were sold to European slave traders.

Two events in the first decade of the 19th century, one internal, the other external, changed the situation in Nigeria. In 1807 Great Britain banned the slave trade. In 1804, Osman dan Fodio began jihad, a holy war, in the Hausan lands. Dan Fodio, unlike the Fulbe nomads, lived in the city, was a devout theologian, and over time began to criticize the incorrect, in his opinion, application of the norms of Islam. After the ruler of Gobir began to persecute Osman dan Fodio and his followers for their reform ideas in 1804, the latter declared jihad against the Hausan rulers. Osman dan Fodio relied on the oppressed Hausa peasants and Fulani nomads. When he died, his supporters conquered almost all of the Hausan lands, and the traditional ruling dynasties of the Hausan states were overthrown. His son Bello became the first caliph of the Sokoto Caliphate, which continued to expand southward. Taking advantage of internal strife in the Oyo Empire, Sokoto captured part of its territory. The main obstacle to Sokoto's territorial expansion was the state of Bornu, ruled by the reformer al-Kanemi, who after 1811 successfully repelled all Fulani invasions. The reformation of Islam became a determining factor in the strengthening of the Fulani empire, and in the 19th century, during the period of Fulban rule in Northern Nigeria, there was a flourishing of Muslim culture unprecedented in the history of Western Sudan.

The prohibition of the slave trade by Great Britain, hitherto the largest buyer of slaves on the West African coast, and the use of British ships in the fight against slave traders did not at all lead to an end to the export of slaves. If the Niger Delta states and their hinterland populations turned to the palm oil trade, the result of Fulani conquests and internal strife in Yoruba lands was the creation of significant numbers of slaves. One of the main markets for the trade of these slaves was Lagos, and Great Britain captured this island in 1861. By 1884, the British National African Company had established an almost complete monopoly on the palm oil trade in the Niger Valley, and British missionaries, educators of the future Nigerian elite, settled in Southern Nigeria. British consuls intervened in civil strife in the Niger Delta region, and British troops were periodically sent into Yoruba lands to stop internal fighting. At the Berlin Conference of 1884–1885, Great Britain demanded recognition of its right to the territory of modern Nigeria. This was largely possible thanks to the energetic actions of the head of the National African Company, George Goldie, who managed to conclude a number of agreements beneficial for Great Britain with the local rulers. Somewhat later, heading the privileged Royal Niger Company (KNK), Goldie received a royal charter to govern the new territories.

In 1885–1904, Great Britain established control over most of Nigeria, and by 1906, it already controlled the entire territory of modern Nigeria. A significant part of the Yoruba lands, weakened by internecine wars, were annexed to the Lagos colony. The areas in the southeast that were outside the KNC administration were captured by the authorities of the Niger Coast Protectorate. Often such seizures were carried out with the help of military force, an example being the occupation of Benin in 1896.

In Northern Nigeria, Lugard introduced a system of indirect government, i.e. used the local ruling nobility, the so-called, in colonial administration. "native authorities". Their responsibility was to collect taxes, and part of the funds collected went to finance the “native authorities” themselves. In 1914, the protectorates of Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria were united into one administrative unit in order to create a unified railway system and redistribute funds in favor of the North.

The unification of the two protectorates did not bring Southern and Northern Nigeria closer together, since two independent administrations continued to operate there, the work of which was coordinated by the Governor of Nigeria, who led several all-Nigerian departments. During the First World War, the system of indirect control was extended to Western Nigeria. In Eastern Nigeria, it was introduced in 1929, after the Aba riots, when the British realized the fallacy of governing through appointed chiefs who were not connected to the system of traditional authority.

With the exception of the Legislative Council of Southern Nigeria, created in 1922, to which four representatives of the local population were elected, there were no elected bodies of government in Nigeria. This situation continued until 1946, when the first of three constitutions that preceded Nigeria's independence was introduced. By this time, significant progress had been made in the development of the colony's economy. Export-import trade flourished, which was almost completely controlled by European trading companies and Lebanese traders. Railways connected Lagos and Port Harcourt with the North, a network of roads ran between East and West and between North and South, significant volumes of peanuts were transported by water transport for Niger and Benue. Palm oil, peanuts, tin, cotton, cocoa beans and timber were exported to Europe. The process of formation of the Nigerian liberation movement was taking place, which was largely facilitated by the opportunities that opened up for Nigerians to travel abroad and see the world with their own eyes, as well as the anti-colonial sentiment that intensified during the Second World War. Nigerian politicians demanded not only an acceleration economic development country, but also providing them with greater opportunities to participate in governance. Both of these demands were understood by Great Britain.

In 1947, the metropolis allocated funds for the implementation of a ten-year plan for the economic development of Nigeria, and in 1946 the Constitution of Nigeria came into force. The Constitution became the object of criticism from Nigerian politicians of anti-colonial orientation, who rightly saw in the creation of separate Legislative Councils for the North, West and East the intention to maintain the fragmentation of Nigeria. The procedure for selecting members of regional legislative councils, where a majority was guaranteed to representatives of the “native authorities,” was also criticized.

The new constitution of 1951 retained the principle of regional legislative councils, but provided for the election of their members. British regionalization policies contributed to the emergence of regional-ethnic political parties. After the abolition of the constitution in 1952, which did not last even a year, representatives of all three major political parties in Nigeria developed the 1954 constitution, which strengthened the positions of the regions. After making some amendments, it was this constitution that became the main document, according to which Nigeria became an independent state on October 1, 1960, and in 1963 it was proclaimed a republic.

The first government of independent Nigeria was based on a coalition of the parties NSNC and SNK, the representative of the SNK, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, became prime minister. After Nigeria was declared a republic in 1963, Azikiwe took over as president. The opposition was represented by the Action Group led by Obafemi Awolowo. Regional governments were headed by: in the North - the leader of the NNC, Ahmadu Bello, in the West - S. Akintola from the Action Group and in the East - the representative of the NNC, M. Okpara. In 1963, a fourth region, the Midwest, was created in the eastern part of Western Nigeria. In the elections held in 1964 in this region, the NSNK won.

In the early 1960s, political alliances created during the struggle for independence fell apart amid growing instability. In January 1965, a new federal government was formed, which included representatives of the Council of People's Commissars, NNDP and NSNK, and Baleva retained the post of prime minister. A new political crisis erupted in October 1965, when, as a result of fraudulent elections in the Western Region, the PPNP returned to power, which provoked a wave of unrest in this part of the country.

In January 1966, a group of army officers, consisting mainly of Ibos, carried out a military coup. The Federal Government handed over the reins of government to the Commander of the Nigerian Army, Major General J. Aguiyi-Ironsi, also an Ibo. In May, the military government issued decrees banning political parties and turning Nigeria into a unitary state. The four existing regions were divided into provinces. These measures confirmed Northern fears about the threat to Ibo hegemony, and a wave of Ibo pogroms swept the North. At the end of July, army units, consisting mainly of northern soldiers, carried out a new military coup, during which Aguiyi-Ironsi and a number of other officers were killed. On August 1, Lieutenant Colonel became the head of state and government (later general) Yakubu Gowon. In September, the government promulgated a decree returning the country to a federal system, and a constitutional conference was held in Lagos, at Gowon's suggestion, to develop a formula acceptable to all for maintaining unity. But persecution of the Ibos resumed in the North, with thousands of people killed, leading to a mass exodus of the Ibos to the East. In this situation, representatives of Eastern Nigeria left the conference. In Aburi, Ghana, Gowon met with the head of the regional government of Eastern Nigeria, Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu. Gowon agreed to radically decentralize the federal system, but the agreement never came into force. On May 27, 1967, on behalf of the regional government, Ojukwu announced the creation of the independent Republic of Biafra in Eastern Nigeria, after which Gowon declared a state of emergency in the country and divided Nigeria into 12 states, three of which were in the East. Three days later, Biafra seceded from Nigeria. In July, with artillery and air support, federal troops launched an offensive against Biafra. Federal troops quickly established control over areas inhabited by non-Ibos, but the Ibo themselves put up a desperate resistance despite widespread starvation due to the blockade of the ports. On January 15, 1970, Biafra surrendered.

Having ended the internecine war, Gowon began to resolve inter-ethnic tensions and restore the destruction caused by the war. However, Gowon failed to fulfill his promises to return the country to civilian rule by 1976 and end corruption. In July 1975, as a result of a bloodless military coup, he was removed from power. Brigadier General Murtala Mohammed became the new president of Nigeria and commander of its army.

Muhammad's government was in power for ca. 200 days, but managed to do a lot. The controversial results of the 1973 census were annulled, a broad campaign was carried out to cleanse the state apparatus and army of corrupt officials, the number of states was increased and a decision was made to create a new federal capital territory. In February 1976, Muhammad was killed during a failed military coup. Muhammad's replacement as head of state, Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo, confirmed the continuity of the political course and the intention of his government to ensure the transition to civilian rule within the established time frame. In 1979, a new constitution came into force, providing for direct elections of the president and head of the executive branch. The elections held in August were won by northern Muslim Shehu Shagari.

Shagari's attempts to increase food production by increasing investment in agriculture met with some success. But other economic development plans could not be implemented, since due to the global decline in production in 1981, government revenues from oil sales began to decrease. Some projects had to be abandoned completely, while others were frozen or implemented on a smaller scale, such as the construction of the new federal capital in Abuja. In order to create jobs for Nigerians, two million West Africans were expelled from the country in early 1983 (half of them are from Ghana).

In mid-1983, elections were held, accompanied by numerous irregularities, and Shagari again became president. On the night of December 31, 1983, a coup took place in Nigeria - the fourth in the country's history. Some articles of the constitution were suspended and political parties were dissolved. Major General Muhammad Buhari became the head of the federal military government. Buhari was overthrown in another military coup in August 1985, and the state was led by Major General Ibrahim Babangida. Appealing to the national sentiments of Nigerians, the Babangida government refused to continue negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on providing Nigeria with a loan of $2.5 billion.

During his eight years in power, Babangida achieved some success in strengthening central power, creating nine new states and dealing harshly with political opponents. The continued fall in world oil prices contributed to the destabilization of the situation in the country. Those involved in attempted military coups in 1985 and 1990 were executed, and the five-year timetable for a return to civilian rule, the "Third Republic", was repeatedly extended. Some Muslim groups advocated the creation of an Islamic state in the country, which did not meet with sharp rebuff from the military government, the majority of which were northerners. In October 1989, two political parties were created by government decree (the military believed that two parties were enough for the country), which was supposed to somehow reduce the intensity of contradictions between the three main ethnic regions. In all elections between 1990–1992, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) won victories over the slightly more conservative National Republican Convention party.

The protracted transition to civilian rule ended with presidential elections on June 12, 1993. Voter turnout was low, but voting went smoothly. The final official results of the election were never released, but Moshood Abiola, a wealthy Yoruba businessman, is believed to have won. His victory is noteworthy for several reasons. Firstly, for the first time since the late 1970s, the country's leader was not from the North, and for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the government was headed by a civilian from the southern states. Nevertheless, Abiola enjoyed strong support from the population of all regions of Nigeria, including the North, the homeland of his rival Bashir Tofa.

However, despite the historical significance of these elections, further events took an unexpected turn: on June 23, the military leadership of Nigeria announced the annulment of their results. Throughout the summer, the country, especially the southwestern part of Abiola's homeland, was paralyzed by numerous strikes and strikes. The political crisis eventually forced Babangida to hand over power to the Provisional National Government on August 26, 1993. The head of government, Ernst Shonekan, was unable to withstand the political crisis and, as a result of a military coup carried out on November 17, 1993 by Defense Minister Sani Abacha, was removed from power.

Abacha's reign (1993–1998) turned out to be the darkest period in the history of independent Nigeria. Abacha initially enjoyed significant support from many prominent political figures, partly due to his lack of a clear political agenda. However, over the course of the year, civilian ministers in Abacha's government were gradually removed from important matters, and it became clear that the country was in the grip of a brutal personal dictatorship. The most striking manifestation of the political evolution of the new head of Nigeria was the imprisonment of M. Abiola. Abiola actively campaigned for recognition of the results of the presidential elections, and on June 12, 1994, on the first anniversary of the elections, he declared himself the legitimate president of Nigeria and was arrested. In a show of support for Abiola, in the summer of 1994, workers in the gas and oil industry went on strike, which paralyzed the entire country for nine weeks, but was suppressed by force.

Abacha's successor, General Abdusalam Abubakar, distanced himself from the abuses of the previous regime. Political prisoners were released, and the new authorities began to review the program for the transition to democratic rule. However, two main problems remained unresolved: the annulled June 12 election results and the imprisonment of Moshood Abiola. On July 7, a few days before his expected release, Abiola died of a heart attack. Although an autopsy carried out by international experts did not reveal signs of violent death, many attributed Abiola's death to the poor conditions in which he was detained for four years. Political tensions following Abiola's death subsided on July 20, when General Abubakar released new program transition to civilian rule, according to which power in Nigeria was to pass to the civilian government elected on May 29, 1999. As the internal political situation liberalized, prominent Nigerian dissidents began to return from emigration to their homeland. In particular, Wole Soyinka came to Nigeria in October. The US and UK governments positively assessed the new program for the transition to democracy and began to discuss the possibility of lifting sanctions. Abubakar was invited to speak at the UN and also visited South Africa.

On February 28, 1999, presidential elections were held in Nigeria. They were won by the candidate from the People's Democratic Party, former head of state and retired General Olusegun Obosanjo, who collected over 60% of the votes.

Which means “flowing water” in Tuareg.

Capital of Nigeria. Abuja.

Area of ​​Nigeria. 923768 km2.

Population of Nigeria. 110532 thousand people

Location of Nigeria. Nigeria is a state in Western Europe, bordered on the north by Niger, on the east by Chad and on the west by Benin. In the south it is washed by the Gulf of Guinea.

Administrative division Nigeria. Nigeria is a federation of 30 states and the capital city of Abuja.

Nigeria form of government. Republic.

Head of State of Nigeria. President, elected for a term of 5 years.

Supreme legislature of Nigeria. Bicameral Parliament (House of Representatives and Senate).

Supreme Executive Body of Nigeria. Government.

Major cities in Nigeria. Lagos, Ibadan.

National language of Nigeria. English.

Religion of Nigeria. 50% are Muslims, 40% are Christians, 10% are pagans.

Ethnic composition of Nigeria. 21% are Hausa, 20% are Yoruba, 17% are Ibo, 9% are Fulani. In addition, about 250 other ethnic groups live in Nigeria.

Currency of Nigeria. Naira = 100 kobo.

Sights of Nigeria. In Lagos there is the National Museum of Nigeria, where there is a rich collection of art objects from almost all periods of the country's development; museums in City, Ibadan, Ilorin, Jos and Kaduna are also interesting.

Helpful information for tourists

The ocean beaches located on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea are magnificent, but very dirty and practically unequipped. There are, one might say, no seaside resorts, although beaches of sand of different shades stretch for many hundreds of kilometers. Unique natural monument Nigeria - the Jos plateau, which is a remnant of rocks rising from the greenery with flat tops and almost vertical slopes, eroded.

It is prohibited to export weapons, drugs, food in large quantities, exotic plants, animals and birds. Objects of antiquity and art, products made of gold and precious metals are subject to mandatory customs control. For the export of animal skins, Ivory and crocodile leather products require appropriate permission. When importing pets, you must have a veterinary certificate with a stamp on vaccination against rabies and permission from the country's veterinary service.

Nigeria is in West Africa. It is the most populous state on the continent and one of its most powerful economies. This article will discuss the state structure of Nigeria, population, linguistic features, major cities and attractions of the country.

Nigeria on the map of Africa: features of geographical location

The country's area is 924 thousand square kilometers (10th largest on the continent in size). The state is located on the shores of the Gulf of Guinea (region - West Africa). Nigeria borders four other countries: Niger, Benin, Cameroon and Chad. It is curious that the border with the latter country is exclusively water - it runs along the lake of the same name.

853 kilometers - this is the total length coastline State of Nigeria. You can also see on the map that the coast of the country is densely indented with deep bays, lagoons and numerous channels. According to them, by the way, ships can pass from the border with Benin all the way to the border with Cameroon without going into the World Ocean. Largest ports Nigeria is Lagos, Port Harcourt, Bonny.

Two largest rivers countries (Niger and its left tributary Benue) divide Nigeria into two parts: southern (plain) and northern (slightly elevated, plateau). The most high point- Mount Chappal-Waddy (2419 meters) - located near the border with Cameroon.

Capital of Nigeria and largest cities

There are currently two hundred cities in Nigeria. Ten of them can be considered millionaires.

Lagos is the largest city not only in Nigeria, but throughout Africa. According to various estimates, from 10 to 21 million people live in it. Until 1991, it was the capital of Nigeria. About 50% of the country's total industrial potential is still concentrated here.

About 100 kilometers north of Lagos there is another Big City- Ibadan. It is home to at least 2.5 million people, most of whom are representatives of the Yoruba people. In northern Nigeria, the largest population center is Kano.

The capital of Nigeria, Abuja, is only the eighth most populous in the state. By the end of the twentieth century, Lagos was severely overpopulated. Therefore, the country's authorities decided to move the capital inland. The choice fell on small town Abuja, located within the picturesque Jos Plateau. Specialist architects from Japan were invited to design the new capital. Today, Abuja is home to the residence of the country's president, government offices, a university and several research institutes.

Features of government

De jure, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a democratic multi-party state, although de facto all power in the country belongs to one People's Democratic Party (PDP). The Nigerian Parliament consists of two chambers. The total number of deputies is 469 people. Parliament is re-elected every four years.

The President of Nigeria is considered the head of state and leads. He is elected for four years by direct and secret popular vote.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria gained its independence in 1960. Before that, it was one of the British colonies. The modern country is divided into 36 states and one capital territory.

Coat of arms, flag and national currency

“Unity and faith, peace and progress” is the slogan that contains the official coat of arms of Nigeria, approved in 1979. It looks like a black shield with a white fork-shaped cross in the center. From the configuration of this cross one can guess the direction (drawing) of the two main rivers of Nigeria on the map - Niger and Benue. The shield is supported on both sides by silver horses, and a red eagle sits proudly above it - a symbol of strength and greatness. The coat of arms of Nigeria is located on a green clearing, which is dotted with the national flower of this country - Costus spectabilis.

It was approved even earlier - in October 1960. The cloth consists of three vertical stripes - white in the center (symbolizing peace) and two green on the sides (symbolizing the natural resources of Nigeria). This version was developed by Michael Akinkunmi, a student at the University of Ibadan. His original design also featured the sun on the white stripe, but the commission decided to remove this element.

The national currency of Nigeria is the Nigerian naira, which includes coins and banknotes of different denominations. On the money of this African country you can see various traditional images: women with jugs on their heads, local folk drummers, fishermen and buffalos, as well as some natural attractions. The Nigerian coin is called kobo.

Population, religions and languages

About 180 million people inhabit Nigeria today. Demographers predict that by the middle of this century the state could become one of the top five world leading countries in terms of population (currently Nigeria ranks only seventh in this indicator). On average, one Nigerian woman gives birth to 4-5 children in her lifetime.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria does not have very rosy demographic indicators. Thus, the country ranks third in the world in terms of HIV infection, 10th in terms of level. In terms of average life expectancy, Nigeria is 220th in the world.

The country has a very complex religious composition of the population: 40% are Christians, 50% are Muslims. On this basis, clashes, murders and terrorist attacks often occur in the state. One of the main sources of religious terror in Nigeria is the radical organization Boko Haram, which advocates the introduction of Sharia law throughout the country.

More than 500 languages ​​are spoken in Nigeria. The most common of them are Efik, Yoruba, Edo, Igba, Hausa. They are mainly used for private communication, some are even studied in schools (in certain regions of the country). The official language of Nigeria is English.

Economy and standard of living in Nigeria

Nigeria's modern economy can be summed up in one word: oil. The most explored here large deposits throughout Africa. The national economy, income and financial system of the republic are closely connected with the extraction of this natural wealth. Nigeria's state budget is filled by 80% from the sale of oil and petroleum products.

Despite the presence of rich deposits of "black gold", Nigerians live extremely poorly. More than 80% of the country's population lives on two dollars a day. At the same time, the state faces a very acute problem of water and electricity shortages.

An important component of the national economy is the tourism sector. There is a lot to see in Nigeria: virgin tropical forests, savannas, waterfalls and a huge number of historical and cultural monuments. However, development tourism infrastructure remains at a very low level.

Industry and foreign trade

About 70% of Nigeria's working population is employed in the industrial sector. Here they mine oil, coal and tin, produce cotton, rubber products, textiles, palm oil and cement. The food and chemical industries, as well as the production of footwear, are developed.

Oil was discovered in Nigeria at the beginning of the twentieth century. Its production today is carried out by a number of transnational corporations, as well as the National Oil Company of the country. Only a third of the “black gold” extracted from the depths is sent for export - to the USA and Western European countries.

Of course, the lion's share of Nigeria's exports is oil and petroleum products (almost 95%). Cocoa and rubber are also exported abroad. Nigeria's main trading partners are the USA, Brazil, India, China, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Tourism in Nigeria: features, nuances, dangers

Why is Nigeria attractive to tourists? First of all - your beautiful nature. In this country you can admire waterfalls, go into real jungles or go on a safari through the savannah. Prices for excursions are usually very low. Locals tourists are not advised to visit the Niger Delta, and northern regions countries where the radical organization Boko Haram is very active.

In general, there are several factors that greatly hinder the development of tourism in the republic. This:

• significant poverty of the population;
• high crime rate;
• frequent religious conflicts and terrorist attacks;
• bad roads.

Nevertheless, tourists come to Nigeria and leave about $10 billion annually.

The Nigerian Embassy is located in Moscow, on Malaya Nikitskaya Street, 13.

Main tourist attractions of the country

In the Republic of Nigeria there are two sites that are under the protection of UNESCO: the Sukur cultural ball and the Osun-Osogbo grove.

In the vicinity of the city of Oshogbo, on the banks of the Osun River, there is a unique grove in which you can see sculptures, shrines and other works of art of the Yoruba people. In 2005 it became UNESCO. The grove, in addition to its historical and cultural value, also has natural value. It is one of the few areas of "high forest" remaining in southern Nigeria. About 400 plant species grow here.

The capital of the state, Abuja, is also interesting for tourists. The most impressive buildings in this city are the Central Bank building and the National Mosque. The last one was built in 1984. This is a huge building with a large central dome and four minarets, the height of which reaches 120 meters. It is interesting that non-Muslims can also enter this mosque.

Conclusion

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is located in West Africa and has wide access to the Atlantic Ocean. The main wealth of the country is oil, the production of which is the basis for the entire economy of the state.

Nigeria has a population of 180 million (as of 2015). About 80% of them live below the poverty line. There are 500 languages ​​spoken in Nigeria, although English is the official language.

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