The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a tropical country (356,668 square miles, or 923,770 square kilometers) with two different climatic zones. The south is hot, rainy and humid for much of the year, while the north is equally hot but dry from October through April.
Nigeria is a federation of 30 states now under the control of an elected government, but past governments have been marred by corruption and instability. Muslims comprise 50 percent of the population, while Christians make up 40 percent. The Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Ibo ethnic groups total 65 percent of the population, and an estimated 250 other ethnic groups comprise the other 35 percent. The official language of Nigeria's 108 million people is English.
There are more than 20 English-language newspapers in the country, but they were heavily monitored and supervised by the military junta. Foreign journalists were routinely expelled for citing corruption in the government. We'll see what happens to press freedom under the Olusegun Obasanjo regime.
The literacy rate is 51 percent. Less than 20 percent of the population graduates from secondary school. The official currency is the naira, divided into 100 kobo.
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