South Africa and Nigeria

The Federal Republic of Nigeria lies in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea coast. Its area is about 924 thousand km² and its population about 230 million: the first in Africa and among the most populous countries in the world (about 6th). It is a presidential republic and a federation of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The capital is Abuja, built in the centre of the country in 1991, which took over the capital’s role from Lagos because Lagos had become very crowded and a central site for the country’s many peoples was needed for a new capital. The largest city is Lagos, one of the biggest cities in Africa. The relief is highlands in the north and lowlands in the south; the biggest rivers are the Niger and Benue, and the Niger forms a large delta where it enters the Gulf of Guinea. The climate is equatorial in the south and subequatorial in the north; rain is heavy in the south and decreases northwards, with humid forests and savannas. Its greatest wealth is oil and gas, mainly in the south and the Niger Delta. The population grows fast, adding millions each year; more than 250 peoples live there, the three biggest being the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo; the official language is English. Muslims are more numerous in the north and Christians in the south; in the south-west both faiths are widespread. Density averages about 240 people/km², much higher on the coast. In the economy, oil and gas exports give most of the state’s income; oil refining, food and textiles matter, but when the oil price falls state income drops sharply, so diversification is urgent. Farming employs a large share of people: maize, sorghum, cassava, groundnuts, cocoa, rubber and cotton; cattle, goats and sheep.