Photo: Emmanuel Ikwuegbu | Unsplash
1. General overview • Nigeria is located in western Africa and borders Benin, Came- roon, Chad, and Niger. • The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River that runs through the country.
ban areas by population were estimated in 2021 to be Lagos (14.862 million), Kano (4.103 million), Ibadan (3.649 million), Abuja (3.464 million), Port Harcourt (3.171 million) and Benin City (1.782 million). • Nigeria is estimated to have over 250 ethnic groups: Hausa 30%, Yoruba 15.5%, Igbo (Ibo) 15.2%, Fulani 6%, Tiv 2.4%, Ka- nuri/Beriberi 2.4%, Ibibio 1.8%, Ijaw/Izon 1.8%, other 24.9% (2018 est.) • President: Muhammadu Buhari (born December 1942). A re- tired Nigerian Army major general, Buhari was formerly Head of State of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d’état.
• The flag: Three equal vertical bands of green, white, and green; the color green represents the forests and natural wealth of the country, white symbolizes peace and unity. • Ruled by the British since 1914, Nigeria attained independen- ce in 1960. The adoption of a new constitution in 1999 com- pleted a peaceful transition to civilian rule. • It is Africa’s most populous country (206 million). The highest density areas are in the south and south-west. The major ur-
1.1. Short contemporary history timeline 1861 1885 1906 1914
1960 1967-1970
1999
The British formed the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria
British expansion in the region started with the annexa- tion of Lagos
Britain’s claims to rule the Niger Ba- sin were acknowle- dged during the Berlin Conference
The territories in the south were united to the protectorate of Northern Nigeria, giving birth to that we now know as “Nigeria”
Independence
Adoption of a new constitution in 1999 and transition to a peaceful civil system
Biafra war
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