ABOUT NIGERIA
Region: Africa
Population: 150,539,700 estimated as at August 2003
Area Total: 923,770 km2
Area Land: 910,770 km2
Coast Line: 853 km
Capital: Abuja
Climate: Varies; equatorial in south, tropical in centre, arid in north
Languages: English (official) Hausa Yoruba Ibo Fulani
Currency: 1 naira (NGN) = 100 kobo
Holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Government:
Three-tier structure - A Federal Government, 36 State Governments, 774 Local Government Administrations
Main Religions:
Christianity, Islam, Traditional
Main Commercial/Industrial Cities:
Lagos, Onitsha, Kano, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Aba, Maiduguri, Jos, Kaduna, Warri, Benin,Nnewi
Major Industrial Complexes:
Refineries and Petro-Chemicals: Kaduna, Warri, Port Harcourt, Eleme. Iron and Steel: Ajaokuta, Warri, Oshogbo, Katsina, Jos. Fertilizer: Onne- Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Minna, Kano Liquefied Natural Gas : Bonny Aluminium Smelter: Ikot Abasi, Port Harcourt
Main Ports:
Lagos (Apapa, Tin-can Island), Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne Deep Sea and Hub Port, Calabar (EPZ)
Main Airports:
Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Ilorin, Jos, Owerri, Calabar, Yola, Sokoto
Road Network:
Over 15,000 km of intercity all weather paved roads, including dual carriage express trunks.
Railways:
2 main lines (South-West to North-East; South-East to North-West) inter-linked and terminatory at Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaura Namoda, Maiduguri and Nguru. Major junctions at Kaduna, Kafanchan, Zaria. Gauge: 1067mm; Total length 3505 route km.
Energy:
Hydro-electric: Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro. Thermal and Gas: Egbin (Lagos), Ughelli, Afam, Sapele, National grid for electricity distribution; National pipeline network with regional depots for petroleum products distribution; National network (pipeline) for distribution of gas (under construction)