Nigeria

Nigeria

Nigeria / The official name of the country is the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is a country in West Africa and the largest country in Africa in terms of population. The state's resources include crude oil and cassava. The Nigerian currency is the Naira. The country has borders with Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the south

Nigeria is often referred to as the "African giant", because of its economy and large population. With nearly 174 million people, Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world. More than 500 ethnic groups live in this country, and the largest ethnic groups are Hausa, Yoruba, and Ibo

With regard to religion, Nigeria is divided almost equally between Christians, most of whom live in the southern and central parts of the country, and Muslims, and most of them are concentrated in the north and southwestern regions. There is a minority of traditional religions practiced by some indigenous people in Nigeria such as Ibo and Yoruba. Nigeria is known as a regional power in Africa

The tropical climate prevails in most parts of Nigeria, and is warm for most of the year, but the northern regions are hotter and drier than the southern regions. The average temperature in the north is about 29 ° C. However, the daily temperature may reach 38 ° C. The average temperatures in the Jos plateau in central Nigeria and the eastern highlands are much lower. This is due to the very high level of the sea

The average annual temperature in the wet south is about 27 ° C. With regard to rain, the south receives a greater percentage of rain from the north, and the average annual rainfall is about 381 cm in coastal areas. The rainy season lasts from April to October, in most regions of Nigeria, but it lasts for a longer period in the south of the country

Nigeria is one of the most important African oil producing countries and is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and is ranked eighth in the list of the most important oil exporting countries at the global level. According to OPEC estimates for the year 2001, the size of Nigeria's oil reserves is between 27 to 31.5 billion barrels, while the volume of natural gas reserves is 4.5 trillion cubic feet. Nigeria consumes only between 200 and 275 thousand barrels of its oil, and exports to the outside world 2.26 million barrels a day. The United States is the most important importer of Nigerian oil

Nigeria also exports 7.83 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily to the outside world in the form of liquefied gas. Most Nigerian oil fields are concentrated in the Niger Delta region in the south and center of the country. Nigerian oil also represents 20% of the gross domestic product, 95% of the total volume of its trade with the outside world, and 65% of the state's budget revenues

Nigeria has a variety of natural resources, and more than half of Nigeria's land is suitable for agriculture and grazing, but the area that is already used in the cultivation of crops does not exceed 15% of the total area of ​​the country, while forests cover nearly a third of Nigeria's area. Lakes and rivers provide large quantities of fish. Oil ranks first among the natural resources in Nigeria, in terms of national income. There are extensive oil fields in southern Nigeria, in addition to some offshore fields in the Gulf of Guinea

There are also important mines in the Jos plateau, in central Nigeria, for tin and columbite, a mineral used in the production of certain types of steel. Other important natural resources in Nigeria include coal, iron ore, lead, limestone, natural gas and zinc. Nigerian workers stack peanut bags in the form of a pyramid stack, ready to be shipped to the market. Nigeria is one of the most important countries producing peanuts in the world

Nigeria occupies an advanced position among the major cocoa-producing countries, palm oil, palm kernels, peanuts and rubber. Other important products in Nigeria include beans, cassava, maize, cotton, sorghum, rice, millet, and yam. Also, farmers throughout Nigeria raise goats, poultry, and sheep. As for cows, they are mainly raised in the north of the country

While fishers catch shrimp, as well as various types of fish, and other edible marine organisms. Average area of ​​a single farm in Nigeria is 1 hectare. Most farmers use old tools and methods in agriculture, but the government is implementing programs to distribute fertilizers, pesticides, and new types of seeds to farmers

Like the rest of the African countries, Nigeria abounds in many natural beauty elements, it is rich in plants, forests and enchanting natural monuments. Officials in Nigeria have worked to revitalize tourism and highlight its features. Nigeria’s forms of tourism vary between the beaches in the southern part of the country, and wildlife parks, In addition to many festivals held

About 84% of Nigeria's population lives in the countryside. Since the mid-twentieth century, large numbers of people have moved to live in cities such as: Lagos, the former capital and largest city in the country, where nearly 8 million people live. In addition to Lagos, there are four cities in Nigeria, with a population of more than 1,000,000 people: Ibadan, Oyo, Kaduna, Ojpumosho and Kano

Almost all of Nigeria's population is African, and the country includes more than 250 ethnic groups. These groups differ from each other. Because of the different languages ​​they use, so are customs and traditions. The three largest groups by number: Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo or Igbo. These three cultural groups make up approximately three fifths of the total population

Hausa lives mainly in the north of the country, and in neighboring countries such as Niger and Chad. Most of them work in agriculture, but many do crafts and trade

The Yoruba live mainly in the southwestern part of the country, as well as in Benin and Togo, located to the west of Nigeria. Most Yoruba live in cities and cultivate lands located in the surrounding rural areas. Hundreds of years ago, several cities arose in the Yoruba region, including the former capital, Lagos

Ibo represents the majority of the population in southeastern Nigeria, and therefore large numbers of them live in other parts of the country. During the period of British rule, since the beginning of the twentieth century many Ibo accepted the education systems, and Western lifestyles more quickly than other population groups in Nigeria, and they were more willing to move away from their traditional settlements. As a result, Igbo held a large number of important positions on government and business councils during the colonial period

Other major cultural groups in Nigeria include Nubian and Latif in central Nigeria. The Edo, the Arhub, and the Iskari in the state of Bendel, the Alljou in the Niger Delta, the Afik and the Ibo in the state of the River Cross and Kanuri in northern Nigeria, whose origins date back to the Kanem Empire