Ni·ge·ri·a (n -jîr  - ) A country of western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea. A variety of states were established in the region prior to the arrival of Europeans, including the Bornu, Benin, and Songhai empires. Exploited by Portuguese, British, French, and Dutch traders in the 17th and 18th centuries, Nigeria was eventually claimed by the British, who consolidated the area into one colony in 1914. The country attained its independence in 1960. Abuja is the official capital (since 1991), but many government offices remain in Lagos, the former capital and the largest city. Population: 135,000,000. Ni·ge ri·an adj. & n. |   |
Nigeria [naɪˈdʒɪərɪə]
n
(Placename) a republic in West Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea: Lagos annexed by the British in 1861; protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria formed in 1900 and united as a colony in 1914; gained independence as a member of the Commonwealth in 1960 (membership suspended from 1995 to 1999 following human rights violations); Eastern Region seceded as the Republic of Biafra for the duration of the severe civil war (1967-70); ruled by military governments from 1966. It consists of a belt of tropical rain forest in the south, with semidesert in the extreme north and highlands in the east; the main export is petroleum. Official language: English; Hausa, Ibo, and Yoruba are the chief regional languages. Religion: animist, Muslim, and Christian. Currency: naira. Capital: Abuja. Pop.: 126 636 000 (2001 est.). Area: 923 773 sq. km (356 669 sq. miles)
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  Nigeria - a republic in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; gained independence from Britain in 1960; most populous African countryal Sunna Wal Jamma, Followers of the Phrophet - a resurgent Islamic fundamentalist organization based in Nigeria that is thought to be planning terrorist attacks Ibadan - a large Yoruba city in southwestern Nigeria; site of a university Katsina - a city in northern Nigeria; a major center of the Hausa people Lagos - chief port and economic center of Nigeria; located in southwestern Nigeria on the Gulf of Guinea; former capital of Nigeria Maiduguri, Yerwa-Maiduguri - a city in northeastern Nigeria; an agricultural trading center Zaria - a city in north central Nigeria; agricultural trading center Africa - the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean Niger, Niger River - an African river; flows into the South Atlantic Nigerian - a native or inhabitant of Nigeria |
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