Nigeria is a country in West Africa having boundaries
with Niger and Chad Republic in the north, Cameroon
on the eastern part, Benin Republic on the western
border and the Atlantic ocean at the southern end.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with
more than 160 million people living there . What this
means is that one in every 7 Africans is a Nigerian.
Geographically, Nigerian terrain changes from the
high savanna-covered plateaus in the north to the oil-
rich Niger Delta in the southern part down to the rain
forest belt region towards the coast. Despite the
insecurity and some slight political instabilities facing
the country, there are some interesting facts about
Nigeria that are worth noting. Answers Africa brings
you the most interesting and fun Nigeria facts.
Top 10 Facts About Nigeria
10. Most Populous Country in Africa
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the
8th most populous in the world with a population of
more than 160 million people. The next African
country to come close is Ethiopia with a population
count of 84 million. That is just about half of Nigerian
population.
9. More Than 250 Ethnic Groups
Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups however,
there are 3 dominant tribes: the Ibo (Igbo), Hausa-
Fulani and Yoruba which make up 18%, 29% and 21%
respectively.
8. Christianity and Islam Are The 2 Major Religions
The major religion in Nigeria are Christianity and
Islam. About half of the Yorubas are Christians and
half Muslim, though many maintain traditional
beliefs. The Igbos in the southeast are mostly
Christian; The Hausa/Fulani in the northern Nigeria
are mostly Islamic and dominated by the Hausa-
Fulani ethnic group. Southern Nigeria is more
westernized and urbanized than the north, with the
Yoruba in the southwest and the Igbo in the
southeast.
7. Niger River is West Africa’s Largest River.
The longest and largest river in West Africa is the river
Niger from where Nigeria derives her name. River
Niger spans about 4,180 km (2,600 mi) from its source
is in the Highlands of Guinea in southeastern Guinea.
It courses in a crescent through Mali, Niger, on the
border with Benin and then through Nigeria, and
eventually emptying into the Gulf of Guinea in the
Atlantic Ocean after passing through a massive delta,
known as the Niger Delta or the Oil Rivers.
6. One of the Oldest Locations of Human Existence
Evidence from archaeological discoveries have shown
that there was a history of human existence in Nigeria
which has been dated to as far back as 9000 BC. The
Nok civilization (around 500 BC-200 AD) is the earliest
known civilization here.
5. Home Of Nollywood
Nollywood is the name given to the Nigerian movie
industry and it has recently been ranked the second
largest producers of movies in the world; just trailing
behind Bollywood; the Indian film industry and ahead
of America’s Hollywood. Nollywood produces up to
200 movies every single week and her movies has
won half of the yearly awards for best picture since
2005.
4. Largest Diversity of Butterfly
Nigeria boasts in being the most suitable habitat for
the worlds largest diversity of the most colorful
creatures – the butterflies. It is widely believed that
the areas surrounding Calabar, Cross River State in
the southern part of the country harbors the world’s
largest diversity of butterflies.
3. Ogun State Has The Highest Number of Universities
in Nigeria
Ogun State is one of the states in the western part of
the country and it has a total of nine registered
universities, making it the state with the highest
number of Universities in Nigeria
2. The Longest Bridge in Africa
The Third Mainland Bridge (in Lagos State) connecting
Lagos Island to the mainland is the longest bridge in
Africa—it measures about 11.8km. The bridge starts
from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Apapa-
Oshodi express way and Lagos-Ibadan express way,
and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos
Island. There is also a link midway through the bridge
that leads to the Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. The
bridge was built by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and
opened by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990
1. Largest Producers of Crude Oil
Nigeria is the 12th largest producer of crude oil in the
world (averaging 2,525,000 barrels per day) and the
8th largest exporter. Nigeria has the 10th largest
proven reserves of petroleum worldwide. Petroleum
plays an important role in the country’s economy and
contributes to more than 85% of the total
government’s revenue.
#GodBlessNigeria.
with Niger and Chad Republic in the north, Cameroon
on the eastern part, Benin Republic on the western
border and the Atlantic ocean at the southern end.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with
more than 160 million people living there . What this
means is that one in every 7 Africans is a Nigerian.
Geographically, Nigerian terrain changes from the
high savanna-covered plateaus in the north to the oil-
rich Niger Delta in the southern part down to the rain
forest belt region towards the coast. Despite the
insecurity and some slight political instabilities facing
the country, there are some interesting facts about
Nigeria that are worth noting. Answers Africa brings
you the most interesting and fun Nigeria facts.
Top 10 Facts About Nigeria
10. Most Populous Country in Africa
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the
8th most populous in the world with a population of
more than 160 million people. The next African
country to come close is Ethiopia with a population
count of 84 million. That is just about half of Nigerian
population.
9. More Than 250 Ethnic Groups
Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups however,
there are 3 dominant tribes: the Ibo (Igbo), Hausa-
Fulani and Yoruba which make up 18%, 29% and 21%
respectively.
8. Christianity and Islam Are The 2 Major Religions
The major religion in Nigeria are Christianity and
Islam. About half of the Yorubas are Christians and
half Muslim, though many maintain traditional
beliefs. The Igbos in the southeast are mostly
Christian; The Hausa/Fulani in the northern Nigeria
are mostly Islamic and dominated by the Hausa-
Fulani ethnic group. Southern Nigeria is more
westernized and urbanized than the north, with the
Yoruba in the southwest and the Igbo in the
southeast.
7. Niger River is West Africa’s Largest River.
The longest and largest river in West Africa is the river
Niger from where Nigeria derives her name. River
Niger spans about 4,180 km (2,600 mi) from its source
is in the Highlands of Guinea in southeastern Guinea.
It courses in a crescent through Mali, Niger, on the
border with Benin and then through Nigeria, and
eventually emptying into the Gulf of Guinea in the
Atlantic Ocean after passing through a massive delta,
known as the Niger Delta or the Oil Rivers.
6. One of the Oldest Locations of Human Existence
Evidence from archaeological discoveries have shown
that there was a history of human existence in Nigeria
which has been dated to as far back as 9000 BC. The
Nok civilization (around 500 BC-200 AD) is the earliest
known civilization here.
5. Home Of Nollywood
Nollywood is the name given to the Nigerian movie
industry and it has recently been ranked the second
largest producers of movies in the world; just trailing
behind Bollywood; the Indian film industry and ahead
of America’s Hollywood. Nollywood produces up to
200 movies every single week and her movies has
won half of the yearly awards for best picture since
2005.
4. Largest Diversity of Butterfly
Nigeria boasts in being the most suitable habitat for
the worlds largest diversity of the most colorful
creatures – the butterflies. It is widely believed that
the areas surrounding Calabar, Cross River State in
the southern part of the country harbors the world’s
largest diversity of butterflies.
3. Ogun State Has The Highest Number of Universities
in Nigeria
Ogun State is one of the states in the western part of
the country and it has a total of nine registered
universities, making it the state with the highest
number of Universities in Nigeria
2. The Longest Bridge in Africa
The Third Mainland Bridge (in Lagos State) connecting
Lagos Island to the mainland is the longest bridge in
Africa—it measures about 11.8km. The bridge starts
from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Apapa-
Oshodi express way and Lagos-Ibadan express way,
and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos
Island. There is also a link midway through the bridge
that leads to the Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. The
bridge was built by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and
opened by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990
1. Largest Producers of Crude Oil
Nigeria is the 12th largest producer of crude oil in the
world (averaging 2,525,000 barrels per day) and the
8th largest exporter. Nigeria has the 10th largest
proven reserves of petroleum worldwide. Petroleum
plays an important role in the country’s economy and
contributes to more than 85% of the total
government’s revenue.
#GodBlessNigeria.
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