Nigeria

Nigeria is a large oil-rich country in West Africa. It has land borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin.

Its capital is Abuja and the largest city is Lagos.

Colonial Nigeria

Nigeria was the most populous colony in Africa and one of the most prosperous, and it won its independence the United Kingdom in 1960. Tensions between ethnic groups - in part a legacy of the indirect rule model of imperialism - led to civil war between the Muslim Hausa-Fulani and the Christian (and animist) Ibo and Yoruba. There was tension even within the Christian groups, as Igbo preferred a democratic society while the Yoruba preferred a monarchy.

Modern Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the strongest growing democracies in Africa. It is also the home to over 140 million people from different ethnicities and backgrounds. Having won its independence in 1960 Nigeria has continued to promote its sovereignty in the region, and assists its neighbors via the African Union or through supplying its neighbor’s power.

Nigeria is famous for internet fraud launched from the country, especially the 419 or Nigerian scam, named for Article 419, an anti-fraud provision in the Nigerian Criminal Code.

Nigeria continues to suffer from internal tribal disunity, however, and this prompted one Nigerian nationalist to say, "Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression."