Nigeria flag

Nigeria

History

Ife, Benin, Oyo and the Hausa city-states developed as major polities.
Usman dan Fodio's jihad founded the Sokoto Caliphate.
Britain amalgamated the northern and southern protectorates.
Independence came on 1 October.
The Biafran war followed the secession of the eastern region.
Civilian rule returned after long periods of military government.
Africa thumbnailPart ofAfricaMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalAbuja
Population223.8M
Area924k km2
CurrencyNigerian naira

Short facts

RegionWest Africa
LanguageEnglish
Time zoneWAT (UTC+1)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Benin bronzes: Court art of the Kingdom of Benin, with work held in Benin City.
  • Osun-Osogbo: A sacred forest grove on the Osun River, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Zuma Rock: A 300 m monolith on the road north of Abuja.

Find a city in Nigeria

Showing all cities

Abuja thumbnailAbujaCityCalabar thumbnailCalabarCity

Planning questions

What is Nigeria known for?Benin bronzes, Osun-Osogbo, Zuma Rock.
What is the capital?Abuja.
Which language is useful?English.
When is the national day?1 October.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Calabar Carnival thumbnailCalabar CarnivalDec 2026 ยท Nigeria

Use Abuja as the first planning anchor for Nigeria, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Street food thumbnailStreet foodSignature dishCoffee thumbnailCoffeeLocal drink

Known for

Benin bronzesOsun-OsogboZuma RockAbujaStreet foodCoffee
Eurovision Song Contest thumbnailMusic & CultureFestivals, concerts and cultural calendars.Africa thumbnailAfrican outdoorsParks, coasts, desert routes and seasonal nature calendars.