World  > Africa  > Nigeria
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General Information Area: 923,768 sq km (356,669 sq miles). Population: 113,828,587 (1999). Population Density: 124.0 per sq km. Capital: Abuja. Population: 378,671 (1991). GEOGRAPHY: Nigeria has borders with Niger to the north, Chad (across Lake Chad) to the northeast, Cameroon to the east and Benin to the west. To the south, the Gulf of Guinea is indented by the Bight of Benin and the Bight of Biafra. The country’s topography and vegetation vary considerably. The coastal region is a low-lying area of lagoons, sandy beaches and mangrove swamps, which merges into an area of rainforest where palm trees grow to over 30m (100ft). From here, the landscape changes to savannah and open woodland, rising to the Central Jos Plateau at 1800m (6000ft). The northern part of the country is desert and semi-desert, marking the southern extent of the Sahara. Government: Republic since 1979. Gained independence from the UK in 1960. Military regime from 1983-1999. Head of State and Government: President Olusegun Obasanjo since 1999. 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. Religion: Fifty per cent Muslim, 40 per cent Christian and 10 per cent traditional beliefs. Muslims are in the majority in the north and west of the country, while in the south Christians form the majority of the population. Time: GMT + 1. Electricity: 220/250 volts AC, 50Hz. Single phase. Communications:   Telephone Full IDD is available. Country code: 234. Outgoing international code: 009. Mobile telephone GSM 900 and 1800 networks. Network operators include Econet Wireless Nigeria Ltd and NITEL GSM. Internet Internet and e-mail services are available in Internet cafes in Lagos. ISPs include Microcom Systems Ltd (website: www.micro.com.ng). Fax Available in large hotels. Telegram International telegraph services are operated by Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) in all large cities. 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 National Concord, the Daily Times, the Guardian, New Nigerian, the Nigerian Tribune, the Post Express, the Sketch, This Day and the Vanguard. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.83 15.40 11.77 7.160 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.58 11.98 6.035 0.909 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.