Federal Republic of Nigeria: Map & History

History

Kainji Dam excavations showed ironworking by the 2nd century BC. The transition from Neolithic times to the Iron Age was accomplished without intermediate bronze production. Some have suggested the technology moved west from the Nile Valley. But the Iron Age in the Niger River valley and the forest region appears to predate the introduction of metallurgy in the upper savanna by more than 800 years, as well as predating it in the Nile Valley. More recent research suggests that iron metallurgy was developed independently in Africa.

The Nok civilisation thrived between 1500 BC and 200 AD. It produced life-sized terracotta figures that are some of the earliest known sculptures in Africa and independently invented iron smelting by about 550 BC and possibly a few centuries earlier.

Economy

Nigeria's economy is the third largest in Africa, the 46th-largest in the world by nominal GDP, and 19th-largest by PPP. As of 2023, Nigeria's economy is classified as lower-middle-income. Before 1999, economic development was hindered by years of military rule, corruption, and mismanagement. In the decades thereafter, the restoration of democracy and subsequent economic reforms led to rapid growth. In 2011, Citigroup projected that Nigeria would have the highest average GDP growth in the world between 2010 and 2050.

In April 2026, FTSE Russell upgraded Nigeria from ‘unclassified’ to ‘frontier market’. Moody’s and S&P upgraded Nigeria in their rankings in 2025 and 2026.

Culture

Prior to European colonization, indigenous architectural styles across Nigeria adapted local climate conditions, available resources, and social structures through the use of sun-dried mud bricks (tubali), timber framing, and thatched roofing. In northern regions, traditional Hausa architecture was integrated into extensive walled urban centers accessed via fortified gatehouses. These residential compounds contained specialized functional areas, including individual sleeping quarters (daki), dedicated kitchens (darki girki), open shaded shelters (rumfa), quarters for unmarried adult males (shago), central water wells (rijiya), and decorative roof parapet projections (zanko).

Geography

Nigeria is located in western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea and has a total area of 923,768 km2 (356,669 mi2), making it the world's 31st-largest country. Its borders span 4,047 kilometres (2,515 mi), and it shares borders with Benin (773 km or 480 mi), Niger (1,497 km or 930 mi), Chad (87 km or 54 mi), and Cameroon (including the separatist Ambazonia) 1,690 km or 1,050 mi. Its coastline is at least 853 km (530 mi). Nigeria lies between latitudes 4° and 14°N, and longitudes 2° and 15°E. The highest point in Nigeria is Chappal Waddi at 2,419 m (7,936 ft). The main rivers are the Niger and the Benue, which converge and empty into the Niger Delta.