Nigeria is the giant of Africa and the most populous country in Africa. We excel in entertainment, lifestyle, education and political advancement. But in recent times, the country has been engulfed in a myriad of sociopolitical and security challenges. Nigerians have thus become more used to tales of mutiny in the Nigerian armed forces than those of historic bravery; we have been regaled with reports of corruption and tribalism than those of patriotism and unity.
However, we have seen changes in different spectra, changing dramatically from having a thriving economy to becoming the poverty capital of the world and from having a tiny GDP to becoming Africa’s largest economy. From Nigeria’s date of independence in the 1960s till date, the country has undergone different stages of political and social transformation, both positive and negative.
Well, read on as we unveil more interesting things about our country Nigeria.
Interesting facts and figures about Nigeria
- Capital: Abuja
- Official language: English
- Major languages lgbo, Hausa, Yoruba, and
- Largest city: Lagos
- Map location: West Africa
- Currency: Naira (₦) (NGN)
- Government: Federal presidential republic
- Longest river: Niger – 4180km (1175 km within Nigeria)
- Independence: October 1, 1960
- Climate: Tropical
- Political divisions: 6 geopolitical zones and 36 states
- Unification of Southern and Northern Nigeria: 1914
- Driving: right
- Calling code: +234
- Internet: ng
Nigeria fun facts
- With a total population of almost 200M, one in every 6 African is undoubtedly a Nigerian
- Of the 7000 languages spoken worldwide, Nigeria has about 516 of them; the state of Taraba alone speaks more languages than at least 30 countries in the world.
- Five of the 10 richest Christian clergymen in the world are Nigerians. Their net worth ranges from $10M to $150M.
- There are more Nigerian citizens living abroad than the combined population of over 40 countries and the repatriate more funds annually than the combined GDP of over 20 countries. There over 17M Nigerians abroad sending home around $22bn annually.
Nigeria currently exports around $44 billion worth of goods with crude oil having an 85 percent share in total export. - Despite her moderate political status, Nigeria stands a greater chance of becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council than 120 UN-recognized nations.
- In 1872, Lagos population was a measly 60,000, today it’s the third-largest city in the world, with about of 21M inhabitants
- According to the statistics from the World Population Review, 1200 babies are born in Nigeria in the time it takes to finish a 90 minutes football match. Currently, 1 baby is born in Nigeria every 4 seconds.
- Despite an alarming growth Rate, 250 people die in Nigeria in the time it takes to complete a one-hour road trip. According to statistics from the World Population Review, 1 person dies in Nigeria every 14 seconds.
- Nigeria’s Yoruba ethnic group has the highest twinning rate.
- There are more Christians in Nigeria than the combined number of Christians in the top three Christian dominant nations.
- Nigeria currently has more Muslim than the entire Islamic Republic of Iran and there are 5 times more Muslim residents in Kano than in Mecca.
- Nigeria currently holds the world’s tooth brushing record, when 300,000 students from the 600 public secondary schools in Lagos brushed their teeth simultaneously at different locations.
- Nigerian immigrants are the most educated immigrants’ community in the United States. About 60% of Nigerians living in the US have college degrees, twice the American national average of 30%.
- Despite having over 500 languages, Nigeria has more English speakers than England.
- At 11.8KM Nigeria’s third mainland bridge connecting the mainland to Lagos Island is the longest bridge in Africa.
- The movie Industry – Nollywood – churns out an average of 28 movies a day making it the second-largest movie industry in terms of size.
- Nigeria is the 12th largest producer of crude oil, pushing out over 2.5M barrels per day.
- The Hausa Language which is indigenous to Northern Nigeria is spoken in 11 African States. France, Germany, U.S., and British International radio stations broadcast in Hausa.
- Almost half of Nigeria’s population are between the age of 0 and 14.
- Nigeria has more internet users than the combined numbers of users in 15 European nations. Currently, Nigeria has over 104M internet users.
- About 63% of all online purchases in Nigeria are made by male buyers.
- Nigeria remains Africa’s largest mobile market with about 162M subscribers with an 83% penetration rate.
- After India, Nigeria is the largest market for dual SIM phones in the world.
- The wealthiest black man and woman on earth, Aliko Dangote and Folorunsho Alakija are both Nigerians.
- A Nigerian family, The Imafidon family, is officially recognized as the smartest family in the entire United Kingdom.
- Philip Emeagwali a Nigeria computer scientist is the greatest African scientist of all time.
- Nigeria’s most wanted man, the dreaded Abubakar Shekau is actually a Nigerien (from the Niger Republic) and not a Nigerian.
- Nigerians are party freaks, a Nigerian – Kaffy – broke record for the “Longest Dance Party” at the Nokia Silverbird Danceathon in 2006.
- Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” has sold more than 8M copies and has been translated to over 50 languages.
- Nigeria’s Wole Soyinka is the first African Nobel laureate in Literature.
- There are over 250 ethnic groups throughout Nigeria.
- A Nigerian, Chidera Anemege holds the staggering record for the longest rap freestyle by an individual.
- Nigeria’s Wizkid is the only Afro-pop star to hit the Guinness record after featuring in the most played song on earth with over 1 billion streams.
- Most of Nigeria’s old leaders were all childhood friends, classmates, course mates or acquaintances. President Babangida was childhood friends with Abdulsalam. Abdulsalam was graduated by Obasanjo who was also childhood friends with Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Commander Danjuma.
- Nigeria plays host to a small reddish-brown bird called the Indigobird and is found nowhere else on the planet but Plateau state, Nigeria
- The Anambra waxbill, a small bird adorned with adorable colours, is found only in Southern Nigeria and nowhere else on the planet.
- Nigeria’s cross river state has the largest diversity of butterflies on earth.
- The drill monkey, one of the most endangered mammal species, can only be found in Nigeria and areas that surround neighbouring Cameroon.
- Nigeria’s Benin Kingdom had locally designed street lights fuelled by palm oil even before European cities had the idea of street lights.
- Despite having a tiny defence budget, Nigeria splashed over $5 Billion and lost thousands of soldiers to end brutal wars in both Liberia and Sierra Leone.
- Nigeria had TV stations long before Ireland had its first RTE station.
- Archaeological evidence indicates that Nigeria is among the oldest region of human settlements. Nigeria’s Nok civilisation dated between 500 BC – 200 AD is among the oldest known civilisation.
- The highly revered Jollof rice with chicken breast, ice cream as well as tea with full cream milk and sugar cost just a measly 50 Kobo in Unilag as at 1970.
- Koko of Nembe (now in Bayelsa) took 60 white men hostage in 1895. When the British colonial power refused his demands, more than 40 of those men were eaten alive
- The first Niger Bridge at Onitsha was constructed between 1964 and 1965 by a French construction company at 2.3 billion Naira, Currently, an American company is constructing a replacement at 200 billion Naira.
- George Goldie, an important figure in the establishment of the Nigerian state, placed a curse on anyone who attempts to write his biography.
- In 1975, you could purchase a brand new car for N2000 and a ticket to London at just N100.
- In 1976, 75 kobo was equivalent to one British Pound and 60 kobo to one US dollar.
- When British Bank of West Africa (now known as First Bank) opened a branch in Kano state in 1929, Nigeria’s Alhassan Dantata ( Aliko Dangote’s Grandfather) opened an account depositing 20 camel-loads of silver coins.
- Nigeria’s Cocoa house in the city of Ibadan, Oyo state was once the tallest building in tropical Africa.
- In 1945 Cameroon was still an administrative part of Nigeria.
- During the independence in 1960, there were about 41 Secondary Schools in the North and a total of 842 Secondary Schools in the South
- In 1983, Nigerian Senator, Arthur Nzeribe spent around $16.5M just to win a Senatorial seat in Orlu in Imo State.
- Late MKO Abiola was named Kashimawo (meaning let us wait and see) by his parents. This was because he was his father’s twenty-third child, but the first-ever to survive infancy.