Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon

Area: total:  923,768 sq km

Capital: Abuja

Population: 1.5 million

Government type: Federal Republic

Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, and indigenous beliefs 10%.

Languages: English (the official language), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani. French is also widely spoken especially among traders with Nigeria's neighbours.

Ethnic groups: Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%

Concise history:
The earliest human ancestry (Homo erectus and Homo habilis) lived in East Africa more than 2 million years ago
700AD - Arabian and Persians trade with ivory, rhino horn, gold, shells and slaves
Arab traders settle and bring a Muslim influence to the culture
1200 - 1800's - The Kanem-Bornu Empire dominate northern Nigeria
1800's - Nigeria comes under the loose control of an Islamic empire
1800-1900's - European slave traders establish coastal ports for the increasing traffic in slaves destined for the Americas
The slaves were emancipated in the 1830's
1901 - Nigeria became a British protectorate
1914 - Nigeria became a British colony
1914 - 1918 WW1
1939 - 1945 WW11
August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1960 - Nigeria was granted full independence
The Nigerian flag was designed in 1959 and first officially hoisted on October 1, 1960
A series of Coups have resulted in turbulent and violent recent years.