Key Facts about Nigeria

About Nigeria:

• It is a country located on the western coast of Africa. It is often called the “Giant of Africa.” 
• Boundaries: It is bordered to the north by Niger, to the east by Chad and Cameroon, to the south by the Gulf of Guinea of the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west by Benin. 
• It achieved independence from Britain in 1960. 
• It covers an area of around 9.24 lakh square kilometres.
• It is also Africa’s most populous country.
• Capital: Abuja
• Language: English is Nigeria’s official language, although many local languages such as Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Ijaw are also spoken.
• Money: Naira
• Nigeria has a diverse geography, with climates ranging from arid to humid equatorial.
• Drainage:
  • The major drainage areas in Nigeria are the Niger-Benue basin, the Lake Chad basin, and the Gulf of Guinea basin.
  • The Niger River, for which the country is named, and the Benue, its largest tributary, are the principal rivers.
• Major Mountain Range: Cameroonian Highlands

The country has abundant natural resources, notably large deposits of petroleum and natural gas.

Q1: Which countries border the Gulf of Guinea?

Covering an area of 2.35 million km2, the Gulf of Guinea is the northeastern most portion of the tropical Atlantic Ocean located off the western coast of the continent of Africa.The 16 coastal countries that are situated along the Gulf of Guinea are Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, Nigeria, Ghana, São Tomé and Principe, Togo and Sierra Leone.

Source: The collapse of a school in northern Nigeria leaves 22 students dead, officials say

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