What do we know about Africa? To be honest, almost nothing. Africa seems to many of us a distant land filled with dangers and infectious diseases. But in reality, life on the African continent is much more complex than it seems to those who live many thousands of kilometers from this amazing land. Of particular interest is Nigeria - a country that could become one of the richest in the world and outshine the glory of the United Arab Emirates.

Nigeria: a brief description

Nigeria is located in West Africa. This is one of the largest states on the continent. The name of the country was given by the turbulent Niger River, translated from the Tuareg language, its name is translated as "flowing water". Two rivers flow through the whole country - Niger and Benue, which divide it into parts. The population of Nigeria, living in the southern and northern parts of the state, has its own characteristics and traditions.

Nigeria is a republic and is ruled by a president who makes decisions in conjunction with a bicameral parliament. IN this moment the country consists of thirty-six states, fifteen years ago there were only thirteen.

Climate

It is quite hot in the country almost throughout the year. The average annual temperature fluctuates around twenty-eight degrees Celsius. We can say that on the coast and in the center of the country the climate has significant differences. The coast is influenced by sea air, which increases humidity and makes the climate close to equatorial.

Serious temperature fluctuations are observed in the center of the country and in the mountains. In the winter season, night frosts are quite common, but daytime temperatures can rise to thirty-eight degrees. The population of Nigeria is trying to adapt to such differences, but the country has a high mortality rate from colds, often turning into chronic ones.

What language do Nigerians speak?

The official language in the country is English, but, in addition to it, the population of Nigeria speaks 400 dialects. Each has its own dialect, which varies depending on where you live. The most common dialects are Igba and Yoruba.

Population

In terms of population, Nigeria leads among African countries. UN experts call the state a demographic bomb due to its rapid population growth. The population of Nigeria is increasing by 2% annually and now stands at 194,535,580 people. If this figure continues to grow at the same rate as before, then by the end of this century, Nigeria will outstrip China and India.

The UN links the growing population of Nigeria with the population explosion that has gripped the country since the middle of the last century. Every woman in the state has at least five children. All measures to limit the birth rate, applied by the government of the country, only led to popular unrest. Part of the Muslim population adheres to patriarchal traditions and does not seek to limit the number of children in families.

Over the past fifty years, the population of Nigeria has quadrupled. Each year, the UN allocates cash for the development of social programs and humanitarian assistance to the people of Nigeria, but no one knows how to solve the issue of fertility.

Population density

Nigeria occupies a fairly large area, its territory is 923.768 square kilometers. At the same time, the population density of Nigeria is 210 people per square kilometer. Most of the country's inhabitants live in the northern states, the southern regions of the state are less densely populated and subject to some regulation by the government.

Ethnic composition of the population

The population of Nigeria is represented by a large number of tribes and nationalities. We can say that representatives of all ethnic groups of Africa have found refuge in this country. This is due to the fact that over the past hundred years, Nigeria has been subjected to numerous military incursions and waves of migration. Due to the difficult domestic political situation on the African continent, most countries are in a state of permanent war, which causes constant migration swings. Most of the refugees from neighboring countries finally settled in Nigeria and mixed with the indigenous population of the country.

According to the latest data, more than two hundred and fifty African tribes live in the republic. About 80% of Nigerians are represented by the ten most influential tribes:

• hausa;
• fulbe;
• kanuri;
• Yoruba;
• ibibio-efic;
• ijo;
• beanie

Interestingly, each tribe retains its own culture and language. Despite this, there are practically no clashes on the basis of multinationality in the country, each member of the tribe understands that he has one home - the country of Nigeria. The population of the republic is fluent in several languages. It is necessary to communicate freely with your neighbors. As a result, in addition to native and official in English, Nigerians also speak two or three local dialects.

Nigeria: features of the population

The main feature of the population of the country is religion. hard to find similar state where the main world religions and traditional African beliefs coexist so closely.

Officially, Nigeria is about 50% Muslim and 40% Christian. The remaining 10% profess various local religious movements. But these figures are just a dry reflection of the statistics, in fact, the religious issue in the country is a multi-layered pie. For example, many Nigerians who attend a Christian church, at a difficult moment, can go to local shamans and sorcerers to perform a cleansing ceremony or send damage to a neighbor. Such practices are very common and are considered quite commonplace.

As in many other African countries, Christianity was an implanted and alien religion in Nigeria. Numerous missions worked throughout the country and converted local residents to their faith. Therefore, even among Christians there is no unity - one part of the Nigerians identify themselves as Catholics, and the other as Protestants. There are also other Christian denominations that have their parishes in the country. In the northern part of Nigeria, the majority of the population professes Islam, there are practically no traditional African religions left and Christianity has not been entrenched.

Another feature of the country's population, which appeared due to the multinational composition, is the developed Pan-Nigerian alphabet, according to which local residents are trained in educational institutions. The fact is that language differences have become a significant obstacle to education in Nigeria. The teachers could not conduct classes in all local dialects at the same time, so they took the Latin alphabet as a basis and created their own letter system, consisting of thirty-three characters. Until now, it has been successfully used in the country. At the moment, more than 68% of the population over the age of fifteen are considered literate in Nigeria.

population of northern nigeria

To understand which population in Nigeria is the most influential, just look at the northern part of the country. It can be said with certainty that the Muslim core of all of West Africa is concentrated here. Since the thirteenth century, local tribes professing Islam have firmly settled in this territory. From time to time, one or the other tribes attempted to establish power over the northern lands, but with any dominance, the traditions of Islam remained unchanged.

population of eastern nigeria

Initially, all the tribes that settled in the eastern lands of the country adhered to traditional African beliefs. Since most peoples were engaged agriculture, then the deities had a close connection with the earth. Each tribe lived rather apart, most often in one village. The distance between the villages has always been significant, so communication was rare and the cultural traditions of the peoples did not mix.

At the moment, it is in the east that Christianity and local beliefs are closely intertwined. The tribes submitted to the persistent missionaries and accepted new religion but remained true pagans in their hearts. Even now, they prefer to traditionally settle in villages and resolve many issues at the tribal council.

population of western nigeria

In the west of the country, the Yoruba tribes predominantly live - this is the most numerous people of Nigeria. For centuries, they lived on the same territory as part of several well-fortified cities. Yoruba religious beliefs were not unified, unlike language and culture. Many tribes had their own gods and built special places of worship that are of great interest to modern science.

Until now, most of the cities of today's Nigeria are located in the west of the country. This is also associated with the culture of the Yoruba, who prefer to settle in large ethnic groups.

Population age

The age composition of the population of Nigeria is closely related to high demographic indicators. At the same time, the country is characterized by a low life expectancy and high infant mortality. All this compensates for the daily population growth due to newborns. At the moment, the country has almost the same ratio of men and women.

At the same time, 41% of the population are people under the age of fifteen, 56% of Nigerians fall within the age range from fifteen to sixty-four years. And only 3% of the country's inhabitants live to be sixty-five years of age or older. Such data are typical for countries with a developing type of economy; in the event of a decrease in the birth rate and improvement in living conditions, the percentage of the population over sixty-five years old will steadily increase.

The population and economy of Nigeria

Nigeria could become the richest country in West Africa by extracting and exporting oil. But, unfortunately, military coups and the unstable political situation deprived the country of this opportunity. At the moment, only a very small part of the population of Nigeria has a high level of income, the rest of the Nigerians are almost below the poverty line and need subsidies from the state.

More than 65% of the population is engaged in agriculture. First of all, they work on plantations for growing cocoa beans. This crop is exported and brings a good income to the country. Cotton and rubber are grown in Nigeria. These crops constitute an important item of replenishment of the state treasury. For personal use, the inhabitants of the country often grow sweet potato and corn, bake bread from these crops and prepare a wide variety of dishes.

The life of Nigerians does not look easy. Every day, the inhabitants of the country are fighting for their existence, they are forced to overcome a lot of difficulties in order to feed their families and earn some money. But, despite this, cinema is very developed in Nigeria, so many sociologists believe that the future of the country can be drawn in bright colors and images.

Nigeria- a state in West Africa on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. It borders in the west with Benin (the length of the border is 773 km), in the north - with Niger (1497 km), in the northeast - with Chad (87 km), in the east - with Cameroon (1690 km). Area - 923,768 km². The capital is Abuja.

The Niger and Benue rivers divide the country into two parts: the coastal plain is located in the southern part, and low plateaus predominate in the northern part. A large area of ​​the country is occupied by the Primorskaya Plain, formed mainly by river sediments. In the west of the plain along the coast there is a chain of sandbars that connect with each other and the Gulf of Guinea.

The highest point in the country, Mount Chappal Waddi (2419 m), is located in the state of Taraba near the Nigerian-Cameroonian border.

Climate in Nigeria

The climate in the southern part of Nigeria is equatorial monsoon; in the central part - tropical humid; in the north - tropical dry. Average annual temperatures: +26..+28 °C.

The rainy season (cold season) is from March to October. The largest number precipitation falls on the coast (up to 4000 mm per year), in the central part of the country 1000-1400 mm, and in the extreme northeast - only 500 mm. In the north of the country, precipitation usually occurs from June to September.

Dry period (hot season) - from November to March. During this period, the harmattan wind blows from the northeast, bringing daytime heat and sharp daily temperature changes from the desert regions of the mainland (during the day the air warms up to +40 ° C or more, and at night the temperature drops to +10 ° C).

Last changes: 19.05.2013

Population

The population of Nigeria is 152.2 million people (2010). The country is the largest country in Africa by population, occupying only 14th place on the continent in terms of area.

The average life expectancy is 46 years for men, 48 years for women.

Ethnic composition: more than 250 aboriginal peoples and tribes. The largest ethnic groups: Yoruba - 21%, Hausa and Fulani - 29%, Igbo - 18%.

Language

The official language is English.

Edo, Efik, Adawama Fulfulde, Hausa, Idoma, Igba, Central Kanuri, Yoruba are also widely spoken among the population. In total, there are 421 languages ​​in Nigeria, of which 410 are alive, 2 are second without native speakers, 9 are dead.

Local languages ​​are used mainly for communication and in the media, some languages ​​are also taught in schools. Most of the country's population speaks two or more languages.

Religion

About 50.4% of the population are Muslims (Hausa and part of the Yoruba), about 48.2% are Christians (Igbo and most of the Yoruba), the rest adhere to traditional beliefs.

The northern part of Nigeria (where the majority are Muslims) has been living under Sharia law since 1999.

Religious clashes periodically occur between Muslims and Christians. The Nigerian government is also involved in this conflict, regularly sending troops and police to stop the massacres.

Religious skirmishes have existed in Nigeria since the days when it was a colony of the British Empire. However, the most violent clashes began after the Northern parts of the country received the right to life under Sharia law. The local Christian minority began to be persecuted. The city of Jos has become the center of the toughest fights between representatives of the two religious denominations. In 2010, over 500 people died in Jos, one of the deadliest clashes in the city's history.

Last changes: 05/19/2013

About money

Naira(NGN) is the currency of Nigeria, equal to 100 kobo.

In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 naira of various years of issue.

Outside of Nigeria, the local money "naira" is of no value (except for a souvenir), so it is recommended to exchange all local money before leaving Nigeria.

Currency exchange can be done in banks and exchange offices (not recommended on the street, as the probability of fraud is very high, there are a lot of counterfeit US dollars in circulation).

The use of credit cards and traveler's checks is difficult, and is usually only possible in the capital and other major cities. Paying with a credit card is a very risky operation, even in hotels, there is a high probability of stealing your confidential data from the card.

Last changes: 05/19/2013

Communication and communications

Phone code: 234

Internet domain: .ng

Phone codes of cities

Abuja - 9, Benin City - 52, Lagos - 1, Kano - 64

How to call

To call from Russia to Nigeria, you need to dial: 8 - beep - 10 - 234 - area code subscriber's number.

To call from Nigeria to Russia, you need to dial: 009 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

Last changes: 05/19/2013

Where to stay

Almost all hotels in Nigeria require payment for the entire stay before checking into a room. This even applies to Sheraton and Hilton. Usually you have to pay 125% of the room rate, the balance (deposit) will be returned upon departure.

Please note that paying with a credit card is a very risky operation, even in expensive hotels there is a high probability of theft (and subsequent use) of your confidential data from the card.

Last changes: 05/19/2013

Sea and beaches

There are a lot of beaches in Nigeria, but for the most part they are "wild" and very dirty. Although I must admit that the coast is very beautiful. There are no beach resorts either.

Last changes: 05/19/2013

History of Nigeria

People have inhabited the territory of Nigeria since ancient times. Somewhere in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. In the central part of the country on the Jos plateau, the Nok civilization is formed, which marked the transition from the Stone to the Iron Age. Some features of the culture (figures of horses, riders and wheeled carts) allow us to associate the emergence of Nok with the influence of the ancient Mediterranean center of civilizations. After the mysterious disappearance of the Nok civilization, its traditions were preserved by the Yoruba peoples, who created the early state associations of Ife, Oyo and the Benin kingdom.

In the 8th century, the Zaghawa nomadic Nilots in the territories of the central Sahara created the vast state of Kanem-Borno, whose power extended from Libya to Nigeria. In 1085, the rulers of Kanem-Borno converted to Islam under the influence of Arab merchants. The basis of the state's economy was the transit trans-Saharan trade and the collection of tribute from the conquered tribes.

In the 14th century, the loose nomadic empire of Kanem-Borno disintegrated. On its ruins in northern Nigeria and adjacent territories Niger formed the Hausa city-states. In the 15th century, the northwest of Nigeria became part of the Muslim Songhai Empire (whose center was Timbuktu), which soon collapsed under the onslaught of the Moroccan troops. The Hausa states regained their independence. IN early XIX centuries, they were united during the Fulani jihad into a single state of Sokoto.

Europeans appeared on the shores of the Gulf of Guinea in the 15th century. The first of these were the Portuguese. Unlike other regions of the world, Europeans did not try to gain a foothold in this territory, build their cities here or convert the local population to their faith. On the contrary, they contributed to the strengthening of the native kingdoms (Oyo, Benin) by drawing them into the world market. Exotic fruits and ivory were in demand in Europe, and slaves were in demand in its overseas colonies. And only the industrial revolution (dictating the exploitation of raw materials), as well as the prohibition of the slave trade in the 19th century, undermined the economy of the slave kingdoms, contributed to their decline and absorption by the British colonial empire.

As a result of the "partition of Africa" ​​at the Berlin Conference of 1885, Great Britain laid claim to part of the coast of the Guinean coast, corresponding to modern southern Nigeria. The colonialists instilled in the local population (Yoruba) an Anglican form of Christianity, cocoa and peanut crops, built railways(1916), oil wells were drilled (1958). More bloody was the annexation of the Muslim states of northern Nigeria.

In 1914, the British colonies on the territory of Nigeria were united into a single protectorate of Nigeria. A unified Nigerian nation was never formed. The country was divided into autonomous regions, corresponding to the territories inhabited by the Yoruba (in the west), Hausa (in the north) and Ibo (in the east). On the basis of these nationalities, ethno-regional parties were formed.

Independent Nigeria

On October 1, 1960, Nigeria became independent state. The first government of independent Nigeria was based on a coalition of the NSIS and SNK parties, Abubakar Tafawa Baleva, a representative of the SNK, became prime minister. After the proclamation of Nigeria as a republic in 1963, Nnamdi Azikiwe (representative of the NGIS) assumed the presidency.

In January 1966, a group of Igbo officers led a military coup. The short period of the "first republic" was over. The military tried to establish a unitary state in Nigeria, divided into provinces. Northern Nigerian Muslims saw the coup as a threat to their interests, and inter-ethnic clashes broke out across the country. At the end of July, the military units, consisting of soldiers of the northerners, carried out a new military coup. Lieutenant Colonel (later General), Yakubu Gowon (reigned from 1966 to 1975) became the head of state. Igbo persecution resumed in the north, thousands of people were killed, which led to an exodus of Igbos to the east, their attempts to create the state of Biafra and the civil war of 1967-1970. The country returned to a federal system.

The country's political parties were banned during the periods 1966-1978, 1984-1989 and 1993-1998. In 1975, Gowon was overthrown by a group of officers led by Murtala Muhammad, who was known for his intolerance of corruption and indiscipline; it is believed that the program he published and launched to combat these phenomena in society could be crowned with worthy results, but Mohammed himself was killed in February 1976 during another, this time unsuccessful, coup attempt organized by Lieutenant Colonel B. S. Dimka. Olusegun Obasanjo, who succeeded him, handed over power, as was originally intended, to a civilian government led by Shehu Shagari, who was elected to this post under very dubious circumstances.

In 1979, a new constitution was adopted, marking the beginning of the "Second Republic".

In 1983, the Shagari administration, mired in corruption and despotism, was replaced by a new group of military men who then led the country almost without interruption for a decade and a half. In 1993, elections were held, but the military, mostly representatives of northern ethnic groups, refused to transfer power to Moshud Abiola, an ethnic Yoruba who won them.

In 1998, during the period of preparation for the nomination of the country's military dictator Sani Abacha for the presidency, Abacha died, and Abdusalam Abubakar, who replaced him, nevertheless transferred power to civilians. Presidential elections won the retired general of the Christian community Olusegun Obasanjo. An interfaith consensus was reached, according to which representatives of the Muslim and Christian communities should replace each other as president. Obasanjo served two terms in office and tried through various manipulations to get the constitution amended in order to run for a third term, but did not succeed. However, in 2007, his protege, Muslim Umaru Yar-Adua, was chosen as the new president.

In 2006, there were acts of intercommunal violence between Hausa Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. Over a hundred people died in skirmishes in February. In September, sectarian clashes took place in the state of Jigawa.

In November 2008, riots between Muslims and Christians broke out again in the city of Jos, killing about 300 people. The reason for the unrest was the victory in the local elections of the Muslim party representing the interests of the Hausa people.

On January 13, 2010, a Nigerian federal court handed over presidential powers to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan because former President-elect Umaru Yar'Adua was undergoing a lengthy medical treatment in Saudi Arabia. On February 9, 2010, the Nigerian Senate confirmed the handover.

In March 2010, Jonathan dismissed the cabinet of ministers he inherited from the previous president and proceeded to appoint new ministers, which caused discontent among Umaru Yar'Adua's supporters.

In March 2010, more than 500 people were killed in bloody clashes between Christians and Muslims in the province of Plateau.

On May 5, 2010, President Umaru Yar'Adua died at the age of 58 at his villa in the Nigerian capital, where he returned in February after undergoing medical treatment abroad.

On May 6, 2010, Jonathan Goodluck was sworn in as the new President of Nigeria. He will remain in office until the expiration of his deceased predecessor's term. Future elections are scheduled for January 2011.

Last changes: 05/19/2013

Helpful information

It is customary to bargain in the markets (only fixed prices for bread). As a rule, when trading, you can easily knock down half the price from the one that the seller originally set. Bringing down the price and leaving without buying a product is considered very rude.

Fraud is quite widespread, especially when using foreign currencies, so it is recommended to change some amount into naira in small denominations in advance for everyday use.

Last changes: 05/19/2013

How to get to Nigeria

There is no direct air service between Russia and Nigeria.

A number of European and Middle Eastern airlines operate flights to Nigeria:

Via UK: british airways(London Heathrow - Abuja, Lagos)

Through Germany: Lufthansa(Frankfurt - Abuja, Lagos)

Through Spain: Iberia Airlines(Madrid - Lagos)

Through the Netherlands: KLM(Amsterdam - Abuja, Lagos, Kano)

Through France: Air France(Paris - Charles de Gaulle - Lagos)

Through Italy: Alitalia(Rome - Fiumicino - Accra, Lagos)

Through Turkey: Turkish Airlines (Istanbul - Lagos)

Nigeria is located in West Africa. This is the most populated state on the continent and one of its most powerful economies. This article will focus on the state structure of Nigeria, population, language features, major cities and attractions of the country.

Nigeria on the map of Africa: geographical features

The area of ​​the country is 924 thousand square kilometers (10th place on the continent in terms of size). The state is located on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea (region - West Africa). Nigeria shares borders with four other countries: Niger, Benin, Cameroon and Chad. It is curious that the border with the latter country is exclusively water - it passes through the lake of the same name.

853 kilometers - this is exactly the total length of the coastline of the state of Nigeria. You can also see on the map that the coast of the country is densely indented with deep bays, lagoons and numerous channels. According to them, by the way, ships can pass from the border with Benin and up to the border with Cameroon without leaving the oceans. The largest ports in Nigeria are Lagos, Port Harcourt, Bonnie.

Two major rivers countries (Niger and its left tributary Benue) divide Nigeria into two parts: southern (flat) and northern (slightly elevated, plateau). The highest point - Mount Chappal Waddi (2419 meters) - is located near the border with Cameroon.

The capital of Nigeria and the largest cities

In Nigeria today there are two hundred cities. Ten of them can be considered millionaires.

Lagos is the largest city not only in Nigeria, but in all of Africa. According to various estimates, from 10 to 21 million people live in it. Until 1991, it was the capital of Nigeria. About 50% of the entire industrial potential of the country is still concentrated here.

About 100 kilometers north of Lagos is another large city - Ibadan. It is home to at least 2.5 million people, most of whom are representatives of the Yoruba people. In northern Nigeria, the largest locality is Kano.

The capital of Nigeria, the city of Abuja, is only the eighth in terms of population in the state. By the end of the 20th century, Lagos was heavily overpopulated. Therefore, the country's authorities decided to move the capital inland. The choice fell on the small town of Abuja, located within the picturesque Jos Plateau. Specialist architects from Japan were invited to design the new capital. Today, Abuja houses the residence of the country's president, government offices, a university and several research institutes.

Features of the state structure

De jure, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a democratic multi-party state, although de facto all power in the country belongs to one People's Democratic Party (PDP). The Nigerian Parliament consists of two houses. The total number of deputies is 469 people. Parliament is re-elected every four years.

The President of Nigeria is considered the head of state and leads He is elected for four years by direct and secret popular vote.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria gained its independence in 1960. Prior to that, it was one of the British colonies. modern country divided into 36 states and one metropolitan area.

Coat of arms, flag and national currency

"Unity and faith, peace and progress" - this is the slogan that contains the official coat of arms of Nigeria, approved in 1979. It looks like a black shield with a white forked cross in the center. By the configuration of this cross, the direction (drawing) of the two main rivers of Nigeria on the map is guessed - Niger and Benue. Silver horses support the shield on both sides, and a red eagle proudly sits above it - a symbol of strength and greatness. The coat of arms of Nigeria is located on a green meadow, which is dotted with the national flower of this country - Costus spectabilis.

It was approved even earlier - in October 1960. The cloth consists of three vertical stripes - white in the center (symbolizing peace) and two green on the sides (symbolizing the natural wealth of Nigeria). This version was developed by a student at the University of Ibadan, Michael Akinkunmi. In his original design, the white stripe also had the sun, but the commission decided to remove this element.

The national currency of Nigeria is the Nigerian Naira, which includes coins and banknotes of different denominations. On the money of this African country, you can see various traditional images: women with jugs on their heads, local folk drummers, fishermen and buffaloes, as well as some natural attractions. The Nigerian coin is called the kobo.

Population, religions and languages

About 180 million people live in Nigeria today. Demographers predict that by the middle of this century, the state may enter the top five world-leading countries in terms of population (now Nigeria ranks only seventh in terms of population). this indicator). On average, one Nigerian woman gives birth to 4-5 children in her life.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has not very rosy demographics. Thus, the country ranks third in the world in terms of HIV infection, 10th in terms of life expectancy, Nigeria is 220th in the world.

The country has a very difficult religious composition of the population: 40% are Christians, 50% are Muslims. On this basis, clashes, murders and terrorist attacks often occur in the state. One of the main sources of religious terror in Nigeria is the radical organization Boko Haram, which advocates the introduction of Sharia throughout the country.

More than 500 languages ​​are spoken in Nigeria. The most common of them are Efik, Yoruba, Edo, Igba, Hausa. They are mainly used for private communication, some are even studied in schools (in certain regions of the country). The official language of Nigeria is English.

Economy and standard of living in Nigeria

The modern economy of Nigeria can be described in one single word: oil. The largest deposits in all of Africa have been explored here. National economy, income and financial system The republics are closely connected with the extraction of this natural wealth. The state budget of Nigeria is filled by 80% through the sale of oil and petroleum products.

Despite the presence of rich deposits of "black gold", Nigerians live in extreme poverty. More than 80% of the country's population subsist on two dollars a day. At the same time, the problem of shortage of water and electricity is very acute in the state.

An important component national economy is the tourism sector. There is something to see in Nigeria: virgin rainforests, savannas, waterfalls and a huge number of historical and cultural monuments. However, the development of tourism infrastructure remains at a very low level.

Industry and foreign trade

About 70% of the working population of Nigeria is employed in the industrial sector. Here they are engaged in the extraction of oil, coal and tin, produce cotton, rubber products, textiles, palm oil and cement. Developed food, chemical industry, as well as the production of shoes.

Oil was discovered in Nigeria at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, a number of transnational corporations, as well as the National Oil Company of the country, are engaged in its production. Only a third of the "black gold" extracted from the depths is exported to the United States and Western Europe.

Of course, the lion's share of Nigeria's exports is oil and oil products (almost 95%). Cocoa and rubber are also exported abroad. Nigeria's main trading partners are the USA, Brazil, India, China, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Tourism in Nigeria: features, nuances, dangers

What makes Nigeria attractive for tourists? First of all - its beautiful nature. In this country, you can admire the waterfalls, go to the real jungle or go on a savannah safari. Prices for excursions are usually very low. Local residents do not advise tourists to visit the Niger Delta, as well as the northern regions of the country, where the radical organization Boko Haram is very active.

In general, there are several factors that greatly hinder the development of tourism in the republic. This:

• significant poverty of the population;
• high crime rate;
• frequent religious conflicts and terrorist attacks;
• bad roads.

Nevertheless, tourists come to Nigeria and leave about 10 billion dollars here every year.

The Embassy of Nigeria is located in Moscow, on Malaya Nikitskaya street, 13.

The main tourist attractions of the country

In the Republic of Nigeria, there are two sites that are under the protection of UNESCO: this is the cultural ball of Sukur and the grove of Osun-Osogbo.

In the vicinity of the city of Osogbo, on the banks of the Osun River, there is a unique grove in which you can see sculptures, shrines and other works of art of the Yoruba people. In 2005 it became UNESCO. The grove, in addition to historical and cultural, also has natural value. This is one of the few areas of "high forest" that have survived in southern Nigeria. About 400 plant species grow here.

Interesting for tourists and the capital of the state - Abuja. The most expressive buildings in this city is the building Central Bank and the National Mosque. The last one was built in 1984. This is a huge building with a large central dome and four minarets, which reach a height of 120 meters. Interestingly, non-Muslims can also enter this mosque.

Conclusion

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is located in West Africa and has a wide outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. The main wealth of the country is oil, on the extraction of which the entire economy of the state is shaken.

Nigeria has a population of 180 million (as of 2015). About 80% of them live below the poverty line. There are over 500 languages ​​spoken in Nigeria, although English is the official language.

POPULATION
Demography. In 2004, the number was 137,253,133 people. This figure turned out to be 20-30 million less than that given by UN experts. Since the distribution of federal funds and political representation was based on the number of inhabitants, the government of the states overestimated the population of the states. Therefore, the federal government was forced to cancel the results of the 1962 and 1973 censuses. Only the results of the 1963 census were recognized as reliable - then 55.7 million people lived in Nigeria. True, according to UN experts, the real number of Nigerians in 1963 did not exceed 46 million people. According to estimates made in 1991, 46.8 million people lived in the North alone, while the ethnic and religious affiliation of the respondents was not ascertained. Prior to the 1991 census, the UN made a forecast for 2000, according to which the country's population should have reached 150 million by that time.

High population density is typical for most areas of the southeast, slightly less for the southwest and north (Kano state and northern Kaduna state). The sparsely populated belt runs from the eastern part of Kwara state through the valley of the Niger River, the center of the Plateau state and most of the territory of the states of Yobe and Borno.

Ethnic composition. Over the past twenty centuries, Nigeria has experienced the effects of numerous waves of migrations or invasions, mainly from the northeast. Therefore, the ethnic and linguistic situation in the country is very diverse. More than 250 ethnic groups live in Nigeria with their own language and cultural characteristics. 80% of the population is made up of ten groups that are numerically predominant in individual states: Hausa and Fulbe in the states of Sokoto, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, Katsina, Jigawa and Kano, Kanuri in Borno, Tiv in Benue and Plateau, Yoruba in Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos, edo or Bini in Edo, for or Igbo in Imo and Anambra, Ibibio Efik in Cross River and Ijo in Bayelsa. Hausa, Yoruba and Ibo make up approx. 60% Nigerians.

Peoples of the northern states. The most numerous peoples of the North are the Hausa, Fulbe, Kanuri and Tiv. All of them, except for the Tiv, are Muslims. During the jihad, a religious war in the early 19th century, the Fulbe established their control over the lands of the Hausa and created a Muslim state - the Sokoto Caliphate. Sokoto occupied most of the territory of northern Nigeria, with the exception of the Kanuri-populated Borno in the northeast and the Tiv lands along the banks of the river. Benue. Social relations among the Fulbe are more conservative than among the Hausa, whose military expansion and trading activities have led to the fact that the Hausa language has spread to many parts of West Africa and has become the lingua franca in much of northern Nigeria. The way of life and social relations of the Kanuri, the main population of the piece. Borno are largely determined by the norms of Islam, but this is not the result of the Fulbe conquests. From the 13th century and until the beginning of the colonial period, the Kanuri managed to maintain their political independence, being the ethnic core of the Muslim state of Kanema-Bornu, located around the lake. Chad. Those living in the states of Benue and Platotiv, unlike their Muslim neighbors, profess Christianity or adhere to traditional beliefs.

Peoples of the Eastern States. The three main ethnic groups in eastern Nigeria are the Ibo-speaking peoples who live in the states of Imo and Anambra, the Ibibio Efik in Cross River State, and the Ijo in Bayelsa State. The traditional type of settlement of all three peoples is small villages. The main form of social organization for were associations of villages and clans. The society for was democratic, all decisions were made at the council. A prominent place in the pantheon of traditional ibo deities belonged to the earth goddess Ala, and the priests of her cult often performed judicial and other power functions. Ibo art is characterized by a high degree of expression. From the overpopulated eastern regions, they migrate to other parts of the country. The exception was the period civil war 1967–1970 Traditionally, the ibibios lived in villages, where secular and religious leaders exercised power. Each village enjoyed a considerable degree of autonomy, but groups of villages, based on blood ties and common beliefs, united into clans, which were ruled by a secular and religious leader and a council of elders. Political power carried out by secret societies such as ekpo and ekpe. Ijo-speaking peoples live in the Niger Delta region; their settlement areas in the eastern part of the delta in Bayelsa state are characterized by low population density. Ijo are divided into several groups: Calabari, Okrika, Nembe and Bonnie, but linguistically and culturally they all form a single community. traditional social and political organization The ijo is quite similar to the ijo, the difference being that the ijo villages were rarely capable of cooperative action. Most modern for, ibibio and ijo are Christians.

Peoples of Western Nigeria. To the southwest of the Niger River, the majority of the population is Yoruba living in the states of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos, and the Edo- (Bini-) speaking population of the state of Edo. The Yoruba are united by a common language, traditions and a legend of origin from common ancestor, the creator of the world Oduduva, but they never had a single centralized state. The Yoruba created several strong city-states. The power of some rulers of these states was not limited to the boundaries of their possessions. Oni (ruler of Ife) was considered the religious head of all Yoruba, and Alafin (ruler of Oyo) was nominally considered the first among equal Yoruba rulers. Yoruba traditional beliefs have several main cults, each associated with a specific deity, such as Shango, the god of thunder. Yoruba religious beliefs, poetry and music brought to the New World influenced the culture of Brazil and some Caribbean countries.

The most notable contribution of the Yoruba to West African art is sculpture. Starting from 1938 on the territory of Ife during archaeological sites Several bronze and terracotta heads and figurines were found. The oldest of them were made ca. 800 years ago. Yoruba sculptures are among the world's masterpieces. IN Lately the expressiveness inherent in Yoruba art finds vivid expression in wooden sculpture.

The Edo-speaking population of the state of Edo is best known for the Benin Empire created by their ancestors. When at the end of the 15th c. Benin was at the zenith of its power, its influence spread from the banks of the Niger River to the territory of modern Togo.

Religion. About 35% of Nigerians are Christians, approximately 48% are Muslims. Christian missions were active in southern Nigeria. Positions catholic church strongest among the population of the eastern part of the country, and Methodist and Anglican - in the west. Other Protestant churches are also active. There are also a number of local Christian-African churches that arose on the basis of schismatic movements due to the dissatisfaction of part of the population with the dominance of foreign missionaries in the church hierarchy and their negative attitude towards polygamy. Most of the Yoruba are Muslim. Thanks to the efforts of missionaries, Christianity and Western education spread in Southern Nigeria, while the population of the North remained committed to Islam.