Nigeria

Abuja serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Nigeria, positioned in Western Africa. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Lagos, Kano, Ibadan — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Abuja was purpose-built in the 1980s to replace Lagos as a neutral federal capital, its modernist grid designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, and the copper-domed Aso Rock Villa sits beneath a 400-metre granite monolith that dominates the skyline.

With a population of approximately 218M, Nigeria is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is English, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Nigeria is reached via the dialling code +234. Nigeria's 250-plus ethnic groups each maintain distinct traditions, yet Lagos has forged Afrobeats into a global export — musicians like Fela Kuti and, later, Burna Boy made Nigerian popular identity as much sonic as tribal.

Nigeria spans 923,768 km², in the Western Africa subregion of Africa. Geographically centred around 10.0°N, 8.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Africa convention.

The official currency is the Nigerian naira (₦), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Nigeria's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+01:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

The emblematic dish of Nigeria is Jollof Rice. Jollof Rice is the subject of fierce West African rivalry — the Nigerian version, cooked over open flame in a heavy pot to achieve the prized smoky bottom layer called 'party jollof', is claimed as the definitive original and the dish anchors every major celebration from naming ceremonies to state weddings.

Football holds a special place in the heart of Nigeria's national identity. The Super Eagles' 1994 Africa Cup of Nations victory and their debut World Cup knockout-stage run that same year, defeating Bulgaria and pushing Italy to extra time, announced Nigeria as a continental football force that has since produced a continuous pipeline of Premier League talent.

The highest point in Nigeria is Chappal Waddi, rising to 2,419 metres above sea level. The Niger Delta is one of the world's most biodiverse wetland systems, a maze of creeks, mangroves and barrier islands stretching across 20,000 square kilometres — a landscape whose oil wealth and ecological fragility have defined Nigeria's modern political struggle.