Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and one of the continent's largest economies.
Officially known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the country is located in West Africa and is made up of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Nigeria has enormous ethnic, linguistic, cultural and economic diversity. It is a major producer of crude oil and natural gas, an important agricultural economy and one of Africa's largest telecommunications and digital markets.
This updated guide brings together important facts about Nigeria's geography, population, government, states, economy, natural resources and communications as of 2026.
Quick Facts About Nigeria
Official name: Federal Republic of Nigeria
Capital: Abuja
Largest city: Lagos
Independence: 1 October 1960
Number of states: 36
Federal Capital Territory: Abuja
Official language: English
Currency: Nigerian naira, symbol ₦, currency code NGN
International telephone code: +234
Internet country code: .ng
Voting age: 18 years
National legislature: National Assembly
System of government: Federal presidential republic
Current President: Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Current Vice President: Kashim Shettima
Current FCT Minister: Nyesom Ezenwo Wike
The Nigerian Flag
Nigeria's national flag consists of three equal vertical bands:
Green | White | Green
The flag was designed by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi.
The green traditionally represents Nigeria's agricultural wealth and natural resources, while the white represents peace and unity.
Nigeria's Independence
Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960.
The country became a republic on 1 October 1963.
Nigeria therefore celebrates Independence Day every 1 October.
Where Is Nigeria Located?
Nigeria is situated in West Africa.
It shares land borders with:
Benin to the west;
Niger to the north;
Chad to the northeast; and
Cameroon to the east.
To the south, Nigeria has a coastline along the Gulf of Guinea, part of the Atlantic Ocean.
How Large Is Nigeria?
Nigeria covers a total area of approximately 923,768 square kilometres.
This includes both land and inland water.
It is one of the largest countries in West Africa by land area.
Nigeria also has hundreds of kilometres of Atlantic coastline.
Major Physical Features of Nigeria
Nigeria's landscape varies greatly across the country.
The south includes coastal lowlands, mangrove forests, freshwater swamps and tropical rainforest.
Moving northward, the landscape gradually changes into savannah.
The central part of the country contains hills and plateaus, including the Jos Plateau.
Mountainous areas occur particularly around eastern Nigeria and the border with Cameroon.
Northern Nigeria becomes progressively drier toward the Sahel.
Nigeria's Climate
Nigeria has a predominantly tropical climate, but conditions vary substantially between regions.
Southern Nigeria
The south generally has:
higher rainfall;
greater humidity;
longer rainy seasons; and
tropical rainforest and coastal environments.
Central Nigeria
Central Nigeria generally experiences tropical savannah conditions with distinct wet and dry seasons.
Northern Nigeria
Northern Nigeria is generally hotter and drier, with shorter rainy seasons.
The far north approaches Sahelian conditions and is more vulnerable to drought and desertification.
Major Rivers in Nigeria
Nigeria's two most important rivers are the:
River Niger
and
River Benue
The two rivers meet at Lokoja in Kogi State.
Other important rivers include the Kaduna, Cross, Sokoto, Gongola, Anambra and Ogun rivers.
Nigeria also has an extensive network of creeks and waterways, particularly in the Niger Delta.
Natural Resources in Nigeria
Nigeria possesses substantial natural resources.
Important examples include:
crude oil;
natural gas;
limestone;
coal;
tin;
columbite;
iron ore;
lead;
zinc;
gold;
bitumen;
barite;
gypsum; and
extensive agricultural land.
Petroleum and natural gas have historically played particularly important roles in government revenue and exports.
Nigeria is also seeking to expand investment in solid minerals.
Major Environmental Challenges
Nigeria faces several significant environmental problems.
These include:
flooding;
desertification;
deforestation;
soil degradation;
coastal erosion;
air pollution;
water pollution;
oil spills;
waste-management problems;
loss of biodiversity;
climate change; and
rapidly expanding urban settlements.
Flooding has become particularly important because heavy rainfall, poor drainage, development in flood-prone areas and changing climate conditions can combine to create serious disasters.
Population of Nigeria
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa.
United Nations population projections place Nigeria's population at approximately 242 million people in 2026.
This is very different from the roughly 180 million figure commonly quoted when the original version of this article was written.
Nigeria is also one of the world's most populous countries and has a relatively young population.
Because population figures between censuses are estimates rather than exact headcounts, readers may see slightly different numbers depending on the source and date.
Languages Spoken in Nigeria
English is Nigeria's official language and is widely used in government, education, business and formal communication.
Nigeria is also one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world.
Major Nigerian languages include:
Hausa;
Yoruba;
Igbo;
Fulfulde;
Kanuri;
Tiv;
Ibibio;
Efik;
Edo;
Ijaw; and
Nupe.
Hundreds of indigenous languages are spoken across the country.
Nigerian Pidgin is also widely used as a lingua franca in many communities and cities.
Religion in Nigeria
Nigeria is religiously diverse.
The two largest religious traditions are:
Islam
Christianity
Traditional African religious practices also continue, sometimes independently and sometimes alongside Christianity or Islam.
Religious patterns differ considerably between regions and communities.
Nigeria's System of Government
Nigeria operates a federal presidential system of government under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Government is organised broadly across three arms:
Executive
At the federal level, the executive is headed by the President.
As of August 2026:
President: Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Vice President: Kashim Shettima
The official State House continues to list Bola Tinubu as President and Kashim Shettima as Vice President.
Legislature
Nigeria has a bicameral National Assembly consisting of:
The Senate
and
The House of Representatives
As of August 2026:
Senate President: Godswill Akpabio
Speaker, House of Representatives: Tajudeen Abbas
The Senate has 109 members, while the House of Representatives has 360 members.
Judiciary
The judiciary interprets the law and resolves legal disputes.
Important courts include:
Supreme Court of Nigeria;
Court of Appeal;
Federal High Court;
State High Courts;
National Industrial Court;
Magistrates' Courts;
customary courts; and
Sharia courts in jurisdictions where applicable.
The exact court structure and jurisdiction depend on the matter involved.
Abuja and the Federal Capital Territory
Abuja became Nigeria's federal capital in 1991, replacing Lagos.
It lies within the Federal Capital Territory.
The FCT is not one of Nigeria's 36 states and does not have a governor.
Instead, the territory is administered through the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
As of August 2026, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory is Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
Nigeria's 36 States and Their Capitals
| State | Capital |
|---|---|
| Abia | Umuahia |
| Adamawa | Yola |
| Akwa Ibom | Uyo |
| Anambra | Awka |
| Bauchi | Bauchi |
| Bayelsa | Yenagoa |
| Benue | Makurdi |
| Borno | Maiduguri |
| Cross River | Calabar |
| Delta | Asaba |
| Ebonyi | Abakaliki |
| Edo | Benin City |
| Ekiti | Ado-Ekiti |
| Enugu | Enugu |
| Gombe | Gombe |
| Imo | Owerri |
| Jigawa | Dutse |
| Kaduna | Kaduna |
| Kano | Kano |
| Katsina | Katsina |
| Kebbi | Birnin Kebbi |
| Kogi | Lokoja |
| Kwara | Ilorin |
| Lagos | Ikeja |
| Nasarawa | Lafia |
| Niger | Minna |
| Ogun | Abeokuta |
| Ondo | Akure |
| Osun | Osogbo |
| Oyo | Ibadan |
| Plateau | Jos |
| Rivers | Port Harcourt |
| Sokoto | Sokoto |
| Taraba | Jalingo |
| Yobe | Damaturu |
| Zamfara | Gusau |
Current Governors of Nigeria's 36 States
The following list reflects the serving governors as of 22 August 2026.
| State | Governor |
|---|---|
| Abia | Alex Otti |
| Adamawa | Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri |
| Akwa Ibom | Umo Eno |
| Anambra | Charles Chukwuma Soludo |
| Bauchi | Bala Mohammed |
| Bayelsa | Douye Diri |
| Benue | Hyacinth Alia |
| Borno | Babagana Umara Zulum |
| Cross River | Bassey Otu |
| Delta | Sheriff Oborevwori |
| Ebonyi | Francis Nwifuru |
| Edo | Monday Okpebholo |
| Ekiti | Biodun Oyebanji |
| Enugu | Peter Mbah |
| Gombe | Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya |
| Imo | Hope Uzodimma |
| Jigawa | Umar Namadi |
| Kaduna | Uba Sani |
| Kano | Abba Kabir Yusuf |
| Katsina | Dikko Umar Radda |
| Kebbi | Nasir Idris |
| Kogi | Ahmed Usman Ododo |
| Kwara | AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq |
| Lagos | Babajide Sanwo-Olu |
| Nasarawa | Abdullahi Sule |
| Niger | Mohammed Umar Bago |
| Ogun | Dapo Abiodun |
| Ondo | Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa |
| Osun | Ademola Adeleke |
| Oyo | Seyi Makinde |
| Plateau | Caleb Mutfwang |
| Rivers | Siminalayi Fubara |
| Sokoto | Ahmed Aliyu |
| Taraba | Agbu Kefas |
| Yobe | Mai Mala Buni |
| Zamfara | Dauda Lawal |
Because governors can change through elections, court decisions, resignation, impeachment or other constitutional processes, this section should always be read with the stated date.
Nigeria's Six Geopolitical Zones
Nigeria's 36 states are commonly grouped into six geopolitical zones.
North Central
Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the FCT.
North East
Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.
North West
Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
South East
Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
South South
Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers.
South West
Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.
These geopolitical zones are widely used for administration, politics, development planning and statistical analysis, although they are not a separate constitutional tier of government.
Nigeria's Economy
Nigeria has one of Africa's largest and most diversified economies.
Important sectors include:
agriculture;
crude petroleum;
natural gas;
telecommunications;
financial services;
manufacturing;
construction;
trade;
transport;
entertainment;
information technology; and
professional services.
Nigeria's economic statistics underwent significant revisions and rebasing compared with the much older figures used in the original article.
The International Monetary Fund's May 2026 assessment estimated:
2025 nominal GDP: approximately ₦442 trillion
Projected 2026 nominal GDP: approximately ₦529 trillion
Estimated real GDP growth in 2025: around 4.0%
Projected real GDP growth in 2026: around 4.1%
These figures are estimates and projections and can be revised when national accounts are updated.
Agriculture in Nigeria
Agriculture remains important to employment, livelihoods and food security.
Major products include:
cassava;
yam;
maize;
rice;
sorghum;
millet;
cocoa;
groundnuts;
oil palm;
beans;
vegetables;
livestock;
fish; and
timber.
Nigeria is among the world's major producers of cassava and yam.
Agriculture nevertheless faces challenges including insecurity, climate variability, flooding, limited irrigation, storage losses, logistics problems and access to finance.
Major Industries in Nigeria
Important industries include:
petroleum and natural gas;
cement;
food and beverage processing;
telecommunications;
financial services;
construction;
textiles;
chemicals;
fertiliser;
steel and metal products;
pharmaceuticals;
consumer goods;
entertainment;
technology and digital services.
Nigeria's film industry, popularly known as Nollywood, and its music industry have also become important parts of the country's cultural economy.
Nigeria's Currency
The official currency is the Nigerian naira.
₦1 = 100 kobo
The international currency code is NGN.
The exchange rate changes regularly, so it is better not to hard-code a naira-to-dollar exchange rate into an evergreen country profile.
Telecommunications in Nigeria
Nigeria has one of Africa's largest telecommunications markets.
The old article's figure of approximately 112 million mobile subscriptions is now obsolete.
According to Nigerian Communications Commission data, by January 2026 Nigeria had approximately 182 million active mobile subscriptions.
Internet connectivity has also expanded substantially.
NCC data show that GSM internet subscriptions reached approximately 157 million by May 2026, while broadband subscriptions exceeded 121 million.
These figures represent subscriptions, not necessarily unique individual people because one person may own several SIM cards or internet subscriptions.
Internet and Digital Economy
Nigeria's internet country domain is:
.ng
The country has become one of Africa's largest digital markets.
Major areas of growth include:
financial technology;
electronic payments;
e-commerce;
software development;
digital banking;
online entertainment;
mobile communications;
artificial intelligence;
digital health; and
online education.
Lagos remains one of Africa's most prominent technology and startup centres.
International Organisations
Nigeria participates in numerous regional and international organisations.
Some of the most important include:
United Nations;
African Union;
Economic Community of West African States;
World Health Organization;
World Trade Organization;
International Monetary Fund;
World Bank Group;
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries;
International Labour Organization;
International Civil Aviation Organization;
Food and Agriculture Organization;
UNESCO;
INTERPOL;
International Atomic Energy Agency; and
Commonwealth of Nations.
The old article's long acronym-only list contained obsolete organisations and outdated mission names, so a shorter list of major active organisations is more useful.
Maritime Territory
Nigeria has territorial and maritime rights under international law.
Important concepts include:
Territorial sea: up to 12 nautical miles
Exclusive Economic Zone: up to 200 nautical miles
The continental shelf is governed by international maritime law and should no longer be simplified using the old wording that defined it only as "200-metre depth or depth of exploitation."
Nigeria's Major Cities
Nigeria has many large and rapidly growing urban centres.
Important cities include:
Lagos;
Kano;
Ibadan;
Abuja;
Port Harcourt;
Benin City;
Kaduna;
Maiduguri;
Enugu;
Aba;
Jos;
Ilorin;
Onitsha; and
Abeokuta.
Lagos is the country's largest urban and commercial centre, while Abuja is the political capital.
Why Nigeria Matters in Africa
Nigeria plays an important role in Africa because of its:
population;
economy;
energy resources;
diplomatic influence;
ECOWAS membership;
entertainment industry;
technology sector;
large consumer market; and
regional security role.
Its size also means that progress or setbacks in Nigeria can significantly influence West Africa and the wider continent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of Nigeria?
Nigeria's capital is Abuja.
How many states does Nigeria have?
Nigeria has 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory.
Who is the President of Nigeria in 2026?
As of August 2026, the President is Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Who is the Vice President of Nigeria?
The Vice President is Kashim Shettima.
Who is the FCT Minister?
As of August 2026, the FCT Minister is Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
What is Nigeria's population?
United Nations projections place Nigeria's population at approximately 242 million in 2026.
What is Nigeria's official language?
English.
Nigeria also has hundreds of indigenous languages.
What currency does Nigeria use?
The Nigerian naira, NGN.
What is Nigeria's international telephone code?
+234
When did Nigeria gain independence?
1 October 1960.
What is Nigeria's largest city?
Lagos.
What are Nigeria's major religions?
Islam and Christianity are the two largest religions, alongside indigenous religious traditions.
The Bottom Line
Nigeria is a federal republic of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with a population of roughly 242 million people in 2026.
It is Africa's most populous nation and one of the continent's most influential economies.
Nigeria combines enormous natural resources, agricultural potential, cultural influence and a rapidly expanding digital economy with substantial challenges involving infrastructure, poverty, security, employment, climate change and public-service delivery.
Because many Nigerian statistics change rapidly, population, GDP, political leadership and telecommunications figures should always be read alongside the date of the data.
This guide was updated for August 2026 and should be periodically reviewed as new official statistics and political changes occur.
References
State House, Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Leadership.
National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 10th National Assembly Leadership.
Federal Capital Territory Administration. Office of the Honourable Minister.
Nigeria Governors' Forum. Governors and State Government Information.
International Monetary Fund. (2026). Nigeria: 2026 Article IV Consultation.
Nigerian Communications Commission. (2026). Industry Statistics.
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. World Population Prospects 2024.
World Bank. Nigeria Data and Development Indicators.
National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria.
Disclaimer
Political office holders and economic, demographic and telecommunications statistics change over time. Figures and office holders in this article are stated according to information available as of August 2026 and should be checked against the relevant official government or statistical source when current information is required.
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