40 Interesting and Surprising Nigeria Facts
Nigeria is referred as the Giant of Africa due to its population and economy, it has a great variety of attractions that merits its name in the world. Here we have compiled 40 interesting Nigeria Facts where you can find interesting information. Read on to learn more facts about this African country.
1. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the official name of Nigeria.
2. Nigeria is a country located in West Africa.
3. The total population of Nigeria is around 188,462,640 people.
4. Nigeria is the 7th most populous country in the world.
5. It is the 32nd largest country with 356,669 square miles.
6. The capital city of Nigeria is Abuja.
7. Nigeria shares its border with Benin, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.
8. The official currency of Nigeria is the Naira.
9. The largest city in Nigeria is Lagos.
10. Nigeria is a member of both the African Union and the British Commonwealth.
11. The official language of Nigeria is English.
12. Chappal Waddi is the highest mountain in Nigeria.
13. The Niger is the third-longest river in Africa, exceeded only by the Nile and the Congo River.
14. Football is one of the country’s most popular sports.
15. About half of Nigerians are Muslim.
16. In Nigeria, the left hand is only used for doing things that are considered dirty.
17. Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s.
18. The movie industry of Nigeria is known as “Nollywood”.
19. Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa and the 11th largest in the world.
20. Nigeria is divided into 36 states.
21. Professor Wole Soyinka is the first Nigerian Nobel Laureate.
22. Africa’s oldest boat and the third oldest boat in the world was discovered in Yobe, Nigeria.
23. The richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote lives in Nigeria.
24. Nigeria wins the Olympic gold at the 1992 Olympics in Atlanta.
25. The Portuguese were the first European travelers to visit Benin, Nigeria in 1472.
26. The Jos Plateau Indigobird is a bird species that can only be found in Nigeria.
27. The drill monkey is native to Nigeria.
28. The nickname of Nigeria is “Giant of Africa”.
29. The Niger Delta in Nigeria is the largest wetland in Africa and the third largest mangrove forest in the world.
30. The oldest water works in Africa is found in Nigeria.
31. Folorunso Alakija is one of the richest African women, and one of the richest black women in the world.
32. Nigeria’s Yoruba tribe has the highest number of twin births in the world.
33. The National Flag of Nigeria was designed by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi in 1959.
34. Nigeria has more Muslims than in Saudi Arabia.
35. Nigeria is home to the single largest monument in Africa.
36. Nigeria’s Cross River State has the largest diversity of butterflies.
37. Ogun State has a total of nine registered universities, the highest of any state in Nigeria.
38. Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960.
39. Nigeria is home to 4,715 different types of plant species.
