about Federal Republic of Nigeria
| Formal Name |
Federal republic of Nigeria |
| Capital |
Abuja |
| Area |
923,769 sq km, slightly more than 2.5 times
the size of Japan |
| Population |
118,000,000 (1997 est) |
| Language |
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo |
| Ethnic Composition |
Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo,
(more than 250 ethnic group) |
| Religion |
Muslim (50%), Christian (40%),
indigenous belief (10%) |
| Currency |
Nira, Nira 110 = US$1.00 |
Nigerian Public Holidays
| January 1 | New Year's Day | |
| February 12 | Eid Al Adha | Festival of Sacrifice |
| May 1 | Labour Day | |
| May 14 | Prophet's Birthday | |
| October 1 | National Day | |
| October 27 | Start of Ramadan | Month of fasting |
| November 26 | Eid Al Fitr | |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | |
| December 26 | Boxing Day | |
Nigerian History
| Start of British Control | 1903 | | |
| British Colony and Protectorate | 1914 | | |
| The Independance of Nigeria | 1960 | | |
| Nigeria became a republic within the Commonwealth | 1963 | | |
| Coup d'etat | 1966 | | |
| Biafra War | 1967 | − | 1970 |
| The Return to Civilian Rule | 1979 | | |
| Coup d'etat | 1983 | | |
| Major General Ibrahim Babangida carried out coup d'etat | 1985 | | |
| The capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja | 1991 | | |
| The sudden death of the dictator, General Sani Abacha, | 1988 | | |
General Olusegun Obasanjo inaugurated Nigeria's presidency
A new constitution adopted
Civilian rule starts | 1999 | | |
|
