World Factbook
Nigeria
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green meaning: green stands for the country's forests and natural resources, and white for peace and unity
Capital
name
Abuja
etymology
the newly built city of Abuja replaced Lagos as the capital city in 1991; Abuja takes its name from a nearby town, now renamed Suleja, that was named after Abu JA ("Abu the Red") in 1828
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
9 05 N, 7 32 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Nigeria
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
15 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999
amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses and approval by the Houses of Assembly of at least two thirds of the states; amendments to constitutional articles on the creation of a new state, fundamental constitutional rights, or constitution-amending procedures requires at least four-fifths majority vote by both houses of the National Assembly and approval by the Houses of Assembly in at least two thirds of the states; passage of amendments limited to the creation of a new state require at least two-thirds majority vote by the proposing National Assembly house and approval by the Houses of Assembly in two thirds of the states
Country name
etymology
named for the Niger River that flows through the west of the country to the Atlantic Ocean; the name of the river probably comes from the local Tuareg name, egereou n-igereouen (big rivers)
conventional long form
Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form
Nigeria
Independence
1 October 1960 (from the UK)
Legal system
mixed system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law
Government type
federal presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 15 justices)
subordinate courts
Court of Appeal; Federal High Court; High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; state court system similar in structure to federal system
judge selection and term of office
judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a 23-member independent body of federal and state judicial officials; judge appointments confirmed by the Senate; judges serve until age 70
Executive branch
note
note: the president is chief of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces
cabinet
Federal Executive Council appointed by the president but constitutionally required to include at least one member from each of the 36 states
chief of state
President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023)
election results
2023: Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU elected president; percent of vote - Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (APC) 36.6%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 29.1%, Peter OBI (LP) 25.4%, Rabiu KWANKWASO (NNPP) 6.4%, other 2.5% 2019: Muhammadu BUHARI elected president; percent of vote - Muhammadu BUHARI (APC) 53%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 39%, other 8%
head of government
President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023)
most recent election date
25 February 2023
election/appointment process
president directly elected by qualified-majority popular vote with at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states; president elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
expected date of next election
27 February 2027
National holiday
Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
National color(s)
green, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Sukur Cultural Landscape; Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
Political parties
Accord Party or ACC Africa Democratic Congress or ADC All Progressives Congress or APC All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA Labor Party or LP New Nigeria People’s Party or NNPP Peoples Democratic Party or PDP Young Progressive Party or YPP
Legislative branch
legislature name
National Assembly
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
note
note: Parliament voted in 2024 to revert to the former national anthem used from 1960 to 1978
title
"Nigeria, We Hail Thee"
history
adopted 2024
lyrics/music
Lillie Jean WILLIAMS/Frances BERDA
National symbol(s)
eagle
Administrative divisions
36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives
term in office
4 years
number of seats
360 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
2/25/2023
expected date of next election
February 2027
percentage of women in chamber
4.2%
parties elected and seats per party
All Progressives Congress (APC) (180); People's Democratic Party (PDP) (116); Labour Party (LP) (35); New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) (19); Other (10)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
4 years
number of seats
109 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
2/25/2023
expected date of next election
February 2027
percentage of women in chamber
3.7%
parties elected and seats per party
All Progressives Congress (APC) (59); People's Democratic Party (PDP) (36); Labour Party (LP) (8); Other (6)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 362-6541
chancery
3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 800-7201 (ext. 100)
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Samson Sunday ITEGBOJE (since 22 October 2024)
consulate(s) general
Atlanta, New York
email address and website
info@nigeriaembassyusa.org https://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[234] (9) 461-4036
embassy
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja
telephone
[234] (9) 461-4000
mailing address
8320 Abuja Place, Washington DC 20521-8320
chief of mission
Ambassador Richard MILLS, Jr. (since 25 July 2024)
consulate(s) general
Lagos
email address and website
AbujaACS@state.gov https://ng.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, CD, D-8, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MINURSO, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction