The Federal Republic of Nigeria consists of 36 states and a Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Lagos remains the country’s economic center. Nigeria’s legal system is based on English common law. Its currency is the Naira (N), which is divided into 100 kobo units. Almost square in shape, this tropical country covers an area of 23,768 km. It is bounded by the Republic of Benin to the west, Niger Republic to the north, Chad to the northeast, Cameroon to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. with 151.000.000 population, the fifth part of the population of all the continent, Nigeria is both the most populated and the most densely populated country in Africa
It is situated to the Gulf of Guinea, on what ends the river Niger. The north part of the country is arid and dry for the influence of the Sahara, in contrast with the south, humid and fertile, where the greater part of the population are concentrated.
With crude oil reserves estimated at 30 billion barrels, Nigeria accounts for a major share of the crude oil reserves of sub-Saharan Africa. Oil production was started in1958 and today, at roughly two million barrels per day, is the country’s major source of revenue. Agriculture is Nigeria’s staple economic activity, employing approximately 70% of the working population. Principal crops include yams, maize, cassava, banana, rice, beans, sugar cane, citrus fruits, cocoa, palm produce, groundnuts, rubber, cotton and timber. Nigeria is trying to expand farm output substantially to fight malnutrition and improve living standards. Nigeria’s mineral resources are another, increasingly important aspect in her economy, notably as foreign currency earners. Nigeria produces iron, tin, columbite (which is used in the making of special steels), limestone, coal, natural gas and oil
Nigeria have more than 250 ethnic groups. The most significant are Hausa and Fulani (29 percent), Yoruba (21 percent), Igbo (18 percent), and Ijaw (10 percent). The Hausa and Fulani dominated in the North, while the Yorubas in the West, Igbo in the East and the Ijaws in the Niger Delta.
The official language is English. Other languages widely used  are Edo, Efik, Fulani, Adamawa Fulfulde, Hausa, Idoma, Igbo (Ibo),Kanuri, Yoniba, and Yoruba.
Major industrial projects are now in place, such as the Agbara complex in Ogun State, planned to become West Africa’s biggest industrial park, with facilities for a large number of industrial businesses. Steel-making, key to fast industrial growth, has been launched on a nationwide scale to meet growing demand for steel and to exploit the country’s iron ore and coal resources. Among the new installations are a huge integrated steel works at Ajaokuta in Kogi state, blast furnaces at Aladja in Delta state, rolling mills in Oshogbo, Katsina and Jos. The fastest growing manufacturing sectors include: synthetic and textile fabrics, refined petroleum products, soft drinks and food processing, cements, paints and allied products, roofing sheets , radio, TV, soaps and detergents.
