Nigeria is known for so many things, from food to clothes, time zone, language, art, business, intelligence, etc. It is a country rich in vast natural resources from mineral resources to human capital. These endowments make Nigeria highly sought after in terms of tourism and other recreational activities. This article takes a tour of some of the remarkable things about Nigeria like the country’s time zone, size, borders, political history, and more.

Nigeria’s Time Zone

Nigeria maintains standard time all year round using the West Africa Time (WAT) zone, which is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+01:00). Hence, the time zone in Nigeria is usually put at GMT + 1.

Nigeria’s Size and Border

Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa and has the largest black population in the world. The countries that have borders with Nigeria are Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin.

Nigeria’s Political History

Nigeria, as it is known today became a country in 1914 with the union of the Protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria by the British. On October 1, 1960, the country attained political independence from the British. In 1963, Nigeria established a republican constitution but decided to continue being a part of the Commonwealth. 

Nigeria’s Administrative Capital

The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is the administrative capital of Nigeria and was established in 1976. Formerly, the capital of Nigeria was Lagos which to date remains the nation’s top commercial and industrial hub.

Climate in Nigeria

Nigeria has a tropical climate with varying wet and dry seasons. In the southeast, it is hot and humid for most of the year, but dry in the southwest and farther inland. In the northern and western parts of the country, the climate is a savanna climate and wet and dry seasons are predominant, whereas the extreme north has a steppe environment with limited precipitation.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About Weather in Nigeria

Seasons in Nigeria

Nigeria generally has two seasons: rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season becomes shorter as one travels northward. While the rainy season only lasts from mid-May to September in the far north, it lasts from March to November in the south. The south has a notable break in the rainy season in August, which leads to a brief dry season known as the “August break.”

In the south, particularly in the southeast, where it rains more than 120 inches (3,000 mm) annually, compared to roughly 70 inches (1,800 mm) in the southwest, precipitation is heavier. Away from the shore, rainfall gradually declines; in the extreme north, it does not exceed 20 inches (500 mm) each year.

Temperature and Humidity in Nigeria

In contrast to the northern parts of Nigeria, where seasons fluctuate greatly and where there is a large daily temperature variation during the northern dry season, temperature and humidity in the southern parts of Nigeria are largely stable throughout the year. The mean monthly maximum temperatures along the coast stay constant throughout the year, averaging 90 °F (32 °C) in Lagos and 91 °F (33 °C) in Port Harcourt. The mean monthly minimum temperatures are around 72 °F (22 °C) in Lagos and 68 °F (20 °C) in Port Harcourt.

Towards general, mean minimum temperatures are lower, and mean maximum temperatures are greater in the north. In the warmer months of April and May, for instance, the mean monthly maximum temperature in Maiduguri, in northeastern Nigeria, may approach 100 °F (38 °C), while at the same period, frosts may form at night. The harmattan (the hot, dry northeast trade wind), which blows for more than three months in the north but seldom for more than two weeks near the coast, causes a drop in humidity, despite the North’s normally high humidity levels.

Related: 10 Nigerian Emergency Numbers You Need to Know

Nigeria’s Ethnic Groups

There are about 250 different ethnic groups in Nigeria. The three main ethnic groupings in Nigeria are Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo. Ethnicity in Nigeria is predominantly defined by language, culture, religion, and social values. Marriage and migration are two major tools for ethnic growth and sustainability in the country.

Nigeria’s Economy

Nigeria has one of the biggest economies in Africa. The Nigerian economy is based mostly on the petroleum sector which supports other aspects of the economy like transportation, building, manufacturing, and government services. Nigeria also earns revenue and foreign exchange from the agriculture industry, mining industry, etc.

Security in Nigeria

Security of lives and properties is the mandate of the Nigeria Police which is headed by the Inspector General of Police, who is chosen by the president. Other security agencies in the country are the Nigeria Military comprising the Nigeria Army, Nigeria navy, and Nigeria Air Force. There is also the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the Road Safety Corps, the State Security Service (SSS), and the Department of State Security (DSS), amongst other non-federal security agencies.

Daily Routines and Societal Norms of Nigeria

Nigeria has over the years witnessed the adaptation of imported customs, cultures, and lifestyles which have significantly altered the long-held ancient traditional customs and traditions in Nigeria. However, amongst others, the ancient Nigerian cultures are greetings, respect for the elderly and authorities, hard work, honesty, trust, worship of deities, and love for God. Today, most of these cultures have been significantly eroded by westernization brought about by the consumption of mass media content, social media content, traveling, and the wide adoption of western education.

Next: Check out these essential phrases in Nigerian Pijin English you need to know while traveling in Nigeria

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