Central Nigerian city. Nigeria

There are 32 cities in Africa with a population of more than 1 million people. 3 cities of them Cairo, Lagos and Kinshasa, have a population of over 10 million people, 29 cities with a population of more than 1 million people, but less than 10 million people. Countries with the largest ... Wikipedia

Shows the distribution of cities of millionaires by country. The first city to reach a population of 1 million was Rome around the turn of our era, but by the 5th-6th centuries the population of Rome had declined significantly. A population close to a million ... ... Wikipedia

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Cities in Nigeria is a list of the largest settlements in Nigeria. According to the Internet site World Gazeteer, there are 200 cities in Nigeria with a population of over 22,000. List of cities ... ... Wikipedia

The culture of Nigeria is the totality of the creative achievements of the people of Nigeria. Nigerian culture has a rich history and is a fusion of many subcultures of various communities living in the state. Contents 1 History 2 Modern ... ... Wikipedia

Coordinates: 9 ° 33'00 ″ s. sh. 7 ° 49'00 ″ in. d. / 9.55 ° N sh. 7.816667 ° E etc ... Wikipedia

The climate in 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, April, when temperatures reach 30–32 ° C, and the wettest and coolest month is August. Most precipitation (up to 4000 mm per year) falls in the delta of the Niger River, in the central part of the country - 1000–1400 mm, and in the extreme north-east - only 500 mm. The driest period is winter, when the harmattan wind blows from the northeast, bringing daytime heat and sharp daily temperature drops (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, seems to divide the country's territory into two parts: to the south of their valleys, most of the territory is occupied by the Primorsky Plain, and low plateaus extend to the north. 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 of up to 2042 m (Vogel peak on Shebshi plateau) and numerous remnant rocks, which with bizarre columns rise above the hilly surface of the plateau. In the northwest, the plateaus become the Sokoto Plain (basin of the river of the same name), and in the northeast - to the Bornu plain.

Nigeria is a land of forests and savannahs. Once upon a time, tropical rainforests occupied most of its territory, but deforestation and burning for crops have reduced their area. Now tropical forests with trees braided by lianas up to 45 m high are common only in the Primorskaya plain and in river valleys. In the north of the forest zone, where precipitation is less (up to 1600 mm), deciduous dry tropical forests are widespread. Almost half of the country's territory is occupied by tall grass (wet guinea) savanna, alternating with parks of savannah (with rare trees - kaya, isoberlinia, mitragina).

In the rainy season, tall grasses can shelter not only a person, but also a large animal. During the dry season, the savannah looks lifeless and burned out. North of the high-grass savanna zone, there is a dry Sudanese savanna with characteristic umbrella acacias, baobabs and thorny bushes. In the extreme north-east of the country, where rain is very rare, the so-called Sahelian savannah with sparse vegetation is spread. And only at the shores of Lake Chad the picture changes dramatically: here is the kingdom of lush greenery, thickets of reeds and papyrus.

Equally diverse is the fauna of Nigeria, which is especially well preserved in national parks and reserves. (in particular, in the Yankari nature reserve, on the Bauchi plateau)... Elephants, giraffes, rhinos, leopards, hyenas, numerous antelopes are widespread (including the forest dwarf antelope dikdik, weighing no more than 3 kg), there are large herds of buffaloes, in some places a scaly anteater, chimpanzees and even a gorilla have survived, not to mention monkeys, baboons, lemurs. The world of birds is bright and rich in forests, savannas, especially along river banks.

Population

Among the 190 million population of Nigeria, there are more than 200 different peoples who speak different languages. The most numerous are the peoples for (or Igbo), yorubo, hausa, edo, ibibio, tiv. The traditional culture of the country, the clothes and the way of life of its inhabitants are just as diverse, which, along with exotic nature, is the main attraction of Nigeria. Colored mats, calabash, homespun garments, wood and bronze items are readily purchased by tourists.

Big cities

Nigeria has many relatively large cities, although many of them resemble huge villages in appearance. The capital of the country - Lagos, with more than a million inhabitants, was founded by Europeans four hundred years ago. Now it is a modern city, a major port and an industrial center. There is a university, ethnographic and archaeological museums, comfortable hotels. Ibadan (about 1.3 million inhabitants)- the main city of the Yoruba people, excellent weavers and carvers in metal and wood. Ibadan arose in the 18th century; the old part of the city has preserved its walls. Benin City preserves ancient traditions: numerous religious holidays are especially picturesque here. Ife is a well-known center of African art, especially interesting are items made of bronze and terracotta, 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 grand mosque, an ancient palace of the emir. (residents of Kano are Muslim) and a bazaar known throughout Africa. Other major cities are Port Harcourt, Aba, Enugu, Onicha, Calabar, Zaria, Kaduna, Katsina, Ilorine, Maiduguri, Jos. Some of them were built relatively recently, others have a long history.

Economy

Nigeria belongs to the group of the poorest countries in the world. The backbone of the economy is the oil industry (85% of foreign exchange earnings - 2005)... There is a significant scale of the "shadow" business. About 60% of the population lives below the poverty line. GDP per capita in 2005 was USD 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 from the newcomers some of the skills of farming and the domestication of animals. The transition to sedentary agriculture led to the creation of permanent settlements that served as protection from external enemies. It was in such settlements that the creators lived dating back to 2000 BC. culture of Nok. Numerous evidence found in the North suggests 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 the manufacture of 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 state's wealth was based on its intermediary role in the trans-Saharan trade in salt, beads, textiles, swords, horses and European goods from North Africa, which were exchanged for ivory and slaves. To the west, the states of Katsina and Kano, rivals of Kanem-Bornu in the trans-Saharan trade, were the most significant of the seven Hausa states that arose at different times at the beginning of the 2nd millennium AD. Other Hausa states - Daura, Gobir, Rano, Biram and Zaria, the latter were a major supplier of slaves. Despite the legend of origin from one ancestor and the similarity of cultural traditions, the Hausa states developed autonomously and sometimes even feuded with each other. Kano and most of the east of the Hausan lands were tributaries to Kanem-Bornu.

Both in Kanema-Bornu and in the Hausa states there was a well-oiled system of government, the population regularly paid taxes, there was a standing army, the striking force of which was cavalry. By the 15th century. In the states of this region, Islam became entrenched, brought here through the desert by Muslim traders. Since the 12th century. all the mais, 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 the Muslim elite.

In the first two decades of the 16th century. the great Songhai empire, which sought to establish control over all the Hausa states, turned Kano and Katsina into their tributaries. In 1516-1517, the Songhai vassal of Kant, the ruler of Kebbi, after an attack on the state of Air, proclaimed himself a sovereign ruler and subjugated all the lands of the Hausa. This became the reason for the conflict between Kant and the ruler of Bornu, and he twice defeated the Bornu army. After the death of Kanta in 1526, the alliance of Hausa states fell apart, and the threat to the western borders of Bornu 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 fell on the reign of May Idris Aluma (d. 1617), known as a reformer of Islam and a skilled military leader.

The disunity of the Hausa states persisted throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. During this period, their main rivals were the states of Nupe, Borgu and Kvororofa 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-oiled as that of the states of the North, but the forests made it difficult to contact the outside world, and the 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 the bronze and terracotta items discovered on its territory. Benin already existed as a state entity when its rulers invited Prince Ife Oranian to the kingdom, who became the founder of the dynasty of Benin kings. Faced with difficulties in running Benin, Oranjan handed over power to his son, born in a marriage to a Benin woman, and settled in Oyo.

By the 17th century. the Oyo rulers succeeded in establishing control over most of the Yoruba and Dahomey. The power of the Alafin, the ruler of Oyo, was in direct proportion to the combat capability of a large regular army. Oyo subordinate states were ruled by local rulers, who were controlled by a permanent representative of the Alafin. In the 18th century. Oyo faced the problem of maintaining his power over the vassal states, primarily Dahomey. The situation was complicated by an internal power struggle that was fought between the Alafin and his council, headed by the Bashorun.

Oyo strove to expand his influence in the western direction, and the kings of Benin were interested in the areas to the 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 their trade with Benin by purchasing pepper, but soon switched to the slave trade. For a long time, slaves were traded in Benin and the rest of the coast.

Benin had everything necessary for the slave trade. His army conquered neighboring peoples, and his captives were sold to European slave traders. Before the slave trade began, there were no centralized states on the eastern coast. The few communities of Ijo fishermen who hunted in the channels of the Niger Delta supplied for and Ibibio inland salt and dried fish in exchange for vegetables and tools. However, during the slave trade, some of the fishing settlements turned into small city-states. At the heart of the prosperity of the state of Bonnie, New Calabar and Okrika was the exchange of imported European goods - fabrics, metal products, tools, cheap salt, which was used in ships as ballast, and dried fish from Norway for slaves and vegetables from the hinterland. Farther to the east, in the upper reaches of the Cross River, for the convenience of trade with the Europeans, Efik created a union of cities known as Old Calabar.

The main supplier of slaves was the aro, one of the groups of the people for. Using their control over the oracle Aro-Chukwu, causing universal terror, the aro could freely move throughout the territory inhabited by the for, while others did not feel safe outside their native village or union of villages. By placing trade under their control and gaining access to European goods, the aro solidified their position as priest-traders. Slaves came not only from the nearby hinterland, but also from areas downstream of the Niger and Benue. The Africans disposed of the slaves until they were delivered to the coast, where they were sold to European slave traders.

Two events of 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 a 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 in 1804 the ruler of Gobir began to persecute Osman dan Fodio and his followers for their reformist ideas, the latter declared a jihad against the Hausan rulers. Osman dan Fodio relied on oppressed Hausa peasants and Fulbe nomads. When he died, his supporters conquered nearly all of the Hausa 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 seized part of its territory. The main obstacle to the territorial expansion of Sokoto was the state of Bornu, where the reformer al-Kanemi ruled, who after 1811 successfully repelled all the Fulbe invasions. The reformation of Islam became a determining factor in strengthening the Fulbe empire, and in the 19th century, during the period of Fulbian rule in northern Nigeria, there began 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 stop the export of slaves. If the states of the Niger Delta and their hinterland populations switched to the palm oil trade, then the result of the Fulbe conquests and internal clashes in the Yoruba lands resulted in a significant number of slaves. One of the main markets for these slaves was Lagos, and Great Britain took over the 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, British troops periodically sent to the Yoruba lands to end internal conflicts. At the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, Great Britain demanded to recognize its right to the territory of modern Nigeria. In many ways, this became 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 local rulers. Later as head of the privileged Royal Nigerian 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, 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 regions in the southeast outside the KNK administration were seized by the authorities of the Niger Coast Protectorate. Often such seizures were carried out with the help of military force, an example is the occupation of Benin in 1896.

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

The amalgamation of the two protectorates did not bring Southern and Northern Nigeria closer together, as two independent administrations continued to operate there, coordinated by the Governor of Nigeria, who directed several general Nigerian departments. During the First World War, the indirect control system was extended to Western Nigeria. On the territory of Eastern Nigeria, it was introduced in 1929, after the unrest in Aba, when the British realized the fallacy of government through appointed leaders, not associated with the system of traditional government.

With the exception of the Southern Nigeria Legislative Council, created in 1922, which elected four members of the local population, Nigeria had no elected government. This situation persisted 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 economy of the colony. Export-import trade flourished, which was almost completely controlled by European trading companies and Lebanese traders. Railways linked Lagos and Port Harcourt to the North, the road network ran between East and West and between North and South, and significant amounts of peanuts were transported by water transport across the Niger and Benue. Palm oil, peanuts, pewter, cotton, cocoa beans and timber were exported to Europe. The process of the formation of the Nigerian liberation movement took 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 sentiments that intensified during the Second World War. Nigerian politicians demanded not only to accelerate the country's economic development, but also to provide them with greater opportunities to participate in government. Both of these requirements have found understanding in the UK.

In 1947, the metropolis allocated funds for the implementation of the ten-year plan for the economic development of Nigeria, and in 1946 the constitution of Nigeria entered into force. The constitution was criticized by anti-colonial Nigerian politicians, who rightly saw in the creation of separate Legislative Councils for the North, West and East an intention to preserve the fragmentation of Nigeria. The procedure for selecting members of regional legislative councils, where the majority was guaranteed to representatives of "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. The British policy of regionalization contributed to the emergence of regional-ethnic political parties. After the abolition of the constitution that had not lasted even a year in 1952, representatives of all three main political parties in Nigeria drafted a constitution of 1954, which strengthened the positions of the regions. After some amendments were made, it was this constitution that became the main document, according to which Nigeria became an independent state on October 1, 1960, and in 1963 was proclaimed a republic.

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

In the early 1960s, political alliances created during the struggle for independence were falling apart amid growing instability. In January 1965, a new federal government was formed, which included representatives of the SNK, PNDP and NSNK, while Balev retained the post of prime minister. A new political crisis erupted in October 1965, when the NPDP returned to power as a result of fraudulent elections in the Western region, which provoked a wave of unrest in that part of the country.

In January 1966, a group of army officers, consisting mainly of IOS, carried out a military coup. The federal government handed over the reins of government to the commander of the Nigerian army, Major General J. Aguyi-Ironsi, also for. In May, the military government promulgated decrees banning political parties and making Nigeria a unitary state. The four existing regions were divided into provinces. These measures confirmed the fears of the northerners about the threat of hegemony for, and a wave of pogroms for for swept in the North. At the end of July, army units, consisting mainly of soldiers from the North, staged a new military coup, during which Agiyi-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 to return the country to a federal system, and a constitutional conference was held in Lagos at Gowon's suggestion to work out a formula for maintaining unity that would be acceptable to all. But in the North, the persecution resumed, for thousands of people were killed, which led to a mass flight to the East. In this situation, the representatives of Eastern Nigeria left the conference. In Aburi, on the territory of Ghana, Gowon met with the head of the regional government of Eastern Nigeria, Lieutenant Colonel Odmegwu Ojukwu. Gowon agreed to radically decentralize the federal system, but the agreement never went into effect. 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 the territory of Nigeria into 12 states, three of which were in the East. Three days later, Biafra seceded from Nigeria. In July, with the support of artillery and aviation, federal forces launched an offensive against Biafra. Federal troops quickly established control over areas inhabited not for, but themselves because they put up a desperate resistance, despite the massive famine due to the blockade of ports. Biafra capitulated on January 15, 1970.

Having put an end to the internecine war, Gowon set about settling interethnic contradictions and restoring the destruction caused by the war. However, Gowon failed to deliver on his promises to bring the country back 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 the commander of its army.

The government of Muhammad was in power for approx. 200 days, but I managed to do a lot. The controversial results of the 1973 census were annulled, an extensive campaign was carried out to cleanse the state apparatus and the army from 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 in a failed military coup. Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo, who replaced Muhammad as head of state, confirmed the continuity of the political course and the intention of his government to ensure the transition to civilian rule in a timely manner. In 1979, a new constitution came into force, providing for the direct election of the president and the head of the executive branch. A Muslim northerner Shehu Shagari won the elections in August.

Attempts by Shagari to increase food production by increasing investment in agriculture have met with some success. But other plans for economic development failed to materialize, as government revenues from oil sales began to decline as a result of the global decline in production in 1981. Some of the projects had to be completely abandoned, some were frozen or implemented on a smaller scale, for example, the construction of a new federal capital in Abuja. Two million West Africans were expelled from the country in early 1983 to create jobs for Nigerians (half of them are from Ghana).

In the middle of 1983, elections were held with numerous irregularities, and Shagari again became president. On the night of December 31, 1983, a coup took place in Nigeria - the fourth in the history of the country. Some articles of the constitution were suspended and political parties were disbanded. Major General Mohammed Bukhari became the head of the federal military government. Bukhari was overthrown in another military coup in August 1985, and the state was headed by Major General Ibrahim Babangida. Appealing to the national feelings of the Nigerians, the Babangida government refused to continue negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the provision of a loan to Nigeria in the amount of $ 2.5 billion.

During the eight years of his reign, Babangida made some progress in strengthening the central government, created nine new states and harshly treated political opponents. The continuing drop in world oil prices contributed to the destabilization of the situation in the country. Participants 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 opposition from the military government, the majority of which were northerners. In October 1989, by decree of the government, two political parties were created (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 party, the National Republican Convention.

The protracted transition to civilian rule ended with the June 12, 1993 presidential elections. Voter turnout was low, but the vote went smoothly. The final official election results have never been released, but it is believed that the victory was won by Moshud Abiola, a wealthy Yoruba entrepreneur. His victory is remarkable for several reasons. First, for the first time since the late 1970s, the country's leader was not a native of 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 its southwestern part, the homeland of Abiola, was paralyzed by numerous strikes and strikes. The political crisis eventually forced Babangida on August 26, 1993 to transfer power to the Provisional National Government. The head of the government, Ernst Schonekan, was unable to withstand the political crisis and as a result of the military coup carried out on November 17, 1993 by the Minister of Defense Sani Abachey, he was ousted from power.

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

Abacha's successor, General Abdusalam Abubakar, dissociated himself from the abuses of the previous regime. Political prisoners were released, and the new authorities began to revise the program for the transition to democratic rule. However, two main problems remained unresolved: the annulled results of the June 12 elections and the imprisonment of Moshoud Abiola. On July 7, a few days before his supposed release, Abiola died of a heart attack. Although an autopsy performed by international experts did not reveal signs of a violent death, many attributed Abiola's death to the poor conditions in which he was detained for four years. The political tensions following Abiola's death eased after July 20, when General Abubakar unveiled a new civilian transition program that would transfer power in Nigeria to a civilian government elected on May 29, 1999. With the liberalization of the internal political situation, prominent Nigerian dissidents began to return from emigration to their homeland. In particular, Wole Shoyinka came to Nigeria in October. The US and UK governments welcomed the new democratic transition program and began discussing the possibility of lifting the sanctions. Abubakar was invited to speak at the UN, and also paid a visit to South Africa.

Presidential elections were held in Nigeria on February 28, 1999. The victory was won by the candidate from the People's Democratic Party, the former head of state, retired General Olusegun Obosanjo, who received over 60% of the votes.

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

Nigeria on the map of Africa: features of the geographical location

The area of ​​the country 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 shares borders with four other countries: Niger, Benin, Cameroon and Chad. It is curious that the border with the last country is exclusively water - runs along the lake of the same name.

853 kilometers is the total length of the coastline of the state of Nigeria. The map also shows that the country's coastline is densely indented by deep bays, lagoons and numerous channels. By them, by the way, ships can pass from the border with Benin and up to the border with Cameroon, without leaving the World Ocean. The largest ports in Nigeria are Lagos, Port Harcourt, Bonnie.

The country's two largest rivers (Niger and its left tributary Benue) divide Nigeria into two parts: southern (flat) and northern (slightly elevated, plateau). The highest point - Mount Chappal Waddi (2419 meters) - is located near the border with Cameroon.

Capital of Nigeria and largest cities

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

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

Another large city, Ibadan, is located about 100 kilometers north of Lagos. 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, the city of Abuja, is only the eighth most populous in the state. By the end of the 20th century, Lagos was heavily overpopulated. Therefore, the country's authorities decided to move the capital inland. The choice fell on the small town of Abuja, located within the picturesque Jos plateau. Architects from Japan were invited to design the new capital. Today, the residence of the President of the country is located in Abuja, government offices are located, a university and several research institutes operate.

Features of the state structure

De jure, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a democratic multi-party state, although de facto all power in the country belongs to one Democratic People's Party (PDP). The Parliament of Nigeria 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 a four-year term 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 metropolitan area.

Coat of arms, flag and national currency

"Unity and faith, peace and progress" - this 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. The configuration of this cross guesses the direction (figure) of the two main rivers of Nigeria on the map - Niger and Benue. On both sides, the shield is supported by silver horses, and a red eagle proudly sits above it - a symbol of strength and greatness. The coat of arms of Nigeria is located in a green meadow, which is dotted with the national flower of this country - Costus spectabilis.

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

The national currency of Nigeria is 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 buffaloes, as well as some natural attractions. Nigeria's coin is called a kobo.

Population, religions and languages

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

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

The country has a very difficult 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 throughout the country.

More than 500 languages ​​are spoken in Nigeria. The most common of them are Efik, Yoruba, Edo, Igba, Hausa. Mostly they are 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 living standards in Nigeria

Nigeria's modern economy can be summed up in one single word: oil. The largest deposits in all of Africa have been explored here. The national economy, income and financial system of the republic are closely related to the extraction of this natural wealth. The state budget of Nigeria is 80% replenished through the sale of oil and petroleum products.

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

Tourism is an important component of the national economy. There is something to see in Nigeria: virgin rainforests, savannas, waterfalls and a huge number of historical and cultural monuments. However, the development of tourism infrastructure remains at a very low level.

Industry and foreign trade

About 70% of the working population in Nigeria is employed in the industrial sector. Here they are engaged in the extraction of 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 well developed.

Oil in Nigeria was discovered at the beginning of the twentieth century. A number of transnational corporations, as well as the country's National Oil Company, are currently involved in its production. Only a third of the "black gold" extracted from the bowels is exported to the United States and Western Europe.

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

Tourism in Nigeria: features, nuances, dangers

Why is Nigeria attractive to tourists? First of all - its beautiful nature. In this country, you can admire the waterfalls, go to the real jungle or go on a safari on the savannah. Excursion prices are usually very low. Locals do not advise tourists to visit the Niger Delta, as well as the northern regions of the country, 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 here annually.

The Embassy of Nigeria is located in Moscow, at 13 Malaya Nikitskaya Street.

The 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, besides historical and cultural, also has natural value. It is one of the few "tall forest" sites that has survived in southern Nigeria. About 400 plant species grow here.

Interesting for tourists and the capital of the state - Abuja. The most expressive buildings in this city are the Central Bank building and the National Mosque. The latter was built in 1984. It is a huge building with a large central dome and four minarets, which are 120 meters high. Interestingly, non-Muslims can also get into this mosque.

Conclusion

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

Nigeria is home to 180 million people (as of 2015). About 80% of them live below the poverty line. There are 500 languages ​​spoken in Nigeria, although English is the official one.

Which in translation from Tuareg means "flowing water".

Capital of Nigeria... Abuja.

Nigeria Square... 923,768 km2.

Population of Nigeria... 110532 thousand people

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

Administrative divisions of Nigeria... Nigeria is a federation of 30 states and the capital district of Abuja.

Form of government of Nigeria... 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 of Nigeria... Lagos, Ibadan.

Official language of Nigeria... English.

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

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

Currency of Nigeria... Naira = 100 kobo.

Sights of nigeria... In Lagos - 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, Ibada, Ilorin, Jos and Kaduna are also interesting.

Useful information for tourists

The ocean beaches on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea are gorgeous, but very dirty and barely equipped. Seaside resorts, one might say, no, although beaches of sand of different shades stretch for many hundreds of kilometers. A unique natural monument of Nigeria is the Jos Plateau, which is a rocky outcrop rising from greenery with flat tops and almost steep slopes, eaten away.

It is prohibited to export weapons, drugs, food in large quantities, exotic plants, animals and birds. Antique and art objects, items made of gold and precious metals are subject to mandatory customs control. The export of animal skins, ivory and crocodile leather products requires a permit. When importing pets, you must have a veterinary certificate with a note of vaccination against rabies and a permit from the country's veterinary service.