Nigeria Travel Guide

Nigeria — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: West Africa.
Language: The official language is English. A variation of English (Pidgin English) is also spoken. The three main Nigerian languages are Yoruba, Ibo (also spelt Igbo) and Hausa; another 400 languages are also spoken in the country.
Area: 923,768 sq km (356,669 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 1.
Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Single phase.
Population: 130.2 million (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density: 140.9 per sq km.
Capital City: Abuja. Population: 1.4 million (2006 census). Lagos, which was the capital until 1991, is the largest urban agglomeration with 10 million (UN estimate 2003).
Government: Republic since 1963. Gained independence from the UK in 1960. Military regime from 1983-1999.
Head of State: President Umaru Yar'Adua since April 2007. February 2010: Dr Goodluck Jonathan was made acting president for an indefinite period while Umaru Yar'Adua is receiving medical treatment.
Religion: 50% Muslim (mainly in the north and west of the country), 40% Christian (mostly in the south) and 10% traditional beliefs.

Recent History

Olusegun Obasanjo and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) came up for election again in April 2003. The election was a tense one since, if concluded successfully, this would be the first time since Independence that Nigeria had held two consecutive elections without military intervention. Despite allegations of widespread fraud and ballot-rigging, both the PDP and president Obasanjo were returned with comfortable majorities. (Obasanjo's main opponent was yet another ex-military dictator, Mohammed Buhari.) Obasanjo's chosen successor Umaru Yar'Adua was proclaimed victor in April 2007 in a presidential election which observers said was not credible.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +234.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is average.

Internet

Internet and e-mail services are available in Internet cafes in Lagos.

Media

Nigeria's media scene is one of the most vibrant in Africa. State-run radio and TV services reach virtually all parts of the country and operate at a federal and regional level. All 36 states run their own radio stations, and most of them operate TV services. Despite high levels of violence, the private press still occasionally criticizes the Government.

Post

Airmail to Europe is unreliable and takes up to three weeks. Delivery may be more reliable through international couriers who are represented in major towns.

Press

• English-language newspapers include the the Daily Times, the Guardian, New Nigerian, This Day and the Vanguard.

Radio

• This is the main medium of information for most Nigerians.
• The state-run Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria operates Radio Nigeria stations in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna and Enugu.
• Ray Power is commercial and mainly music- and speech-based.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
15 Feb Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
21 Apr Good Friday
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Workers’ Day
31 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
1 Oct Independence Day
6 Nov - 7 Nov Eid al-Kabir (Feast of the Sacrifice)
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
5 Apr Good Friday
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Workers’ Day
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
1 Oct Independence Day
25 Oct Eid al-Kabir (Feast of the Sacrifice)
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Kabir (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information

Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation

Old Secretariat, Area 1, Garki, PMB 167, Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: (9) 234 2764.
Website: www.nigeriatourism.net

High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the UK

9 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BX, UK
Tel: (020) 7839 1244.
Website: www.nigeriahc.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1730, 1000-1300 (visa submission); 1530-1630 (visa collection).