As a foreigner in any country, you will get tons of questions about your home country. My case isn’t any different. I’ve had many people ask me questions about Nigeria; some don’t even ask, they TELL me about Nigeria. Often, what they say is far from what it is.
Today, I attempt to answer some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Nigeria, earth’s most populous black nation. You might find the answers to your burning questions. A little history before we dive in.
History in brief
The merging of Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria in January 1914 by colonial authorities, headed by Governor Fredrick Lugard, formed the amalgamated Protectorate and Colony of Nigeria. In 1960, forty-six years later, Nigeria became an independent country and a Republic in 1963. To date, the country is officially called the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Click here for more interesting facts.
Nigeria is the most populous country and the largest economy in Africa. Abuja has been the capital of Nigeria since December 12, 1991, while Lagos is the most famous and populated state in the country. The demonym for Nigeria is Nigerian. Don’t say ah!! It will surprise you how many people don’t know that citizens of Nigeria are called Nigerians.
Side note: Nigerians typically don’t mind their business for good reasons. Yup, we will be so up in your biz!!! There is obviously pros and cons to this but, the advantages often outweigh the disadvantages. Don’t forget to check out the 15 interesting facts about Nigeria for things you need to know about the Giant of Africa. Let’s get into it!!!
Source: ccacoalition.org
Do you all speak “Nigerian”?
First off, there are over 520 indigenous languages spoken by Nigerians, and none of them is named Nigerian. The country is multilingual, that you can say hello in different ways. A larger populace speaks Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba languages and their various dialects. Next on the list are languages like Ibibio, Efik, Obolo, Edo, Igarra, Bendi, Urhobo, etc. And then there are some other languages spoken by an even smaller group of people.
English is the official language but everyone speaks pidgin. The official language is English, but Pidgin is widely spoken and used in everyday communication. You will see them in trickles within this blog. When next you meet a Nigerian, say how far! (meaning “Hello”).
Is Nigeria Africa?
Many non-Africans and even some Africans are guilty of this ignorance. The conversation usually begins with “where are you from?”, after the response, the discussion proceeds to “I’ve been to South Africa or [insert any African country]“. So to answer the question,
Nigeria is a country, and Africa is a continent. Yes!! Nigeria is one of the 54 countries in Africa. It is on the Western part of Africa, bordered by Chad and Niger to the north, Cameroon to the East, Benin to the West, and the Atlantic ocean in the south part.
Does the country have a prime minister?
It’s a common misunderstanding since Nigeria is a member of the British Commonwealth. Nigeria is an independent state and has been “free” since 1960. Nevertheless, Nigeria chose to remain a part of the British Commonwealth. The country is also a member of the African Union.
That being said, the British style of government was adopted after Nigeria gained independence in 1960 with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the first Nigerian Prime Minister of Nigeria. Later in 1963, Nigeria became a republic in the commonwealth, and we had our first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe.
What’s the national food in Nigeria?
I know most people will say Jollof rice. Even I would love to give the award to the dish because a party without jollof rice is a meeting. But, there are a lot of different delicious native and indigenous dishes that it is hard to say which is the national food. The main dish varies per region, per state. So when in the country, make sure to try as many as you can.
What’s the national plant of Nigeria
The flower Costus spectabilis commonly known as the yellow trumpet. It is on the coat of arms but in red colour. The flower symbolises the beauty of the nation; one can find it in all parts of the country. We have diverse flora so much that it is a wonder to many; and enough to start recreational pursuits. Even some species of the palms in Miami are from Nigeria.
What’s the national animal of Nigeria
The Eagle, and can also be seen on our emblem. It represents strength.
By the way, we have the most monotypic fish in the world and some other endangered species of animals like the Cross River gorilla and Red-eared monkey. Check out fun facts for more.
Are there wild animals in Nigeria?
Yes, there are wild animals in Nigeria, e.g. Mosquitoes (annoying creatures). However, this question is usually asked with lions etc., in mind. The answer is still yes. Most of the wild animals can be found in Yankari Game Reserve or Kainhji Lake National Park.
Whales and dolphins have been sighted a few times.
Biodiversity is vital to humans for a lot of reasons. The biodiversity of any country provides a cultural, functioning, modulating, and supporting ecosystem that supplies water, oxygen, clean air, pollination of plants, and many other ecosystem services that underpins the country’s properity.
What’s the national sport?
Football is the national sport. Football is to Nigeria as Rugby is to New Zealand and Cricket to India.
What is the main religion in Nigeria?
Christianity and Islam are the major religion practiced in Nigeria. Next to that is traditional religious practices.
What’s the Nigerian currency?
Naira (₦) is the currency of Nigeria issued solely by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It was introduced on January 1, 1973, to replace the Nigerian pound. One naira is divided into 100 kobos.
How about cashless transactions?
Most places accept card payments, and some cities promote cashless transactions. But, smaller towns and establishments still rely on cash transactions, so always carry enough cash to be safe, not too little to get stranded. There are also ATMs available throughout the country.
How safe is Nigeria for tourists?
Nigeria is as safe as most other countries in the world. When it comes to global safety and security rankings, Nigeria is not doing well but, it is not the worst globally. There are criminal activities in the country, just as in every other country in the world. The only issue here is that the rate is high in Nigeria due to political instability, police brutality, insurgence, greed, and every other spirits of the flesh. Sounds familiar?!
Indeed, this story is similar to news from the United States of America. Yet, we are still excited to go to the USA how much more Nigeria. Expats enjoy more safety, and their security is always a higher priority than for the citizens. That’s the sad reality we live in.
You can enjoy the country as a tourist if you heed my word of advice to not look down on people, be alert and proactive, don’t invite trouble which all seems like common sense. Still, we know not everyone remembers to apply it. An example of common sense is not going snooping where you shouldn’t, except it’s of utmost importance.
That’s a wrap. Got any more questions about Nigeria? Add it in the comment.
