About Nigeria

Nigeria became independent from Britain on October 1, 1960. 

Nigeria is the political, economic and demographic key country on the African continent. With a population of approximately 230 million Nigeria is Africa's most populous country. Population growth was 2.4 percent in 2022. The capital Abuja is located in the center of the country with a population of approx. 3.6 mio. The commercial capital Lagos boasts more than 22 mio. inhabitants. 

The political agenda of the country is characterized by major security challenges in the form of combating the violent extremist group Boko Haram in the North and controlling militant groups in the South. 

The country is characterized by a dynamic economy, high economic growth and a growing demand for non-domestic products. Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer and among the top ten producers worldwide. Nigeria is a key economic player in Africa and has a huge economic potential. Together with Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey ( MINT-countries) Nigeria is considered as a future economic power, and has the potential to be among the world's ten largest economies. Despite this, Nigeria is a low income country, and the country suffers from extreme corruption and inequality. 60 % of the population lives below the UN poverty line. In addition, significant regional differences between the wealthier south and the much poorer north of the country exist.

Nigeria is the most important political player in the region, not least when it comes to regional stability, including in connection with maritime safety in the Gulf of Guinea. The country also plays a major role in conflict resolution in the region. The difficult security situation in the Northeastern states caused by Boko Haram rampage has caused a major humanitarian crisis with more than 2.2 million internally displaced and nearly 150,000 Nigerian refugees in neighboring countries. 

Abuja is home to the headquarters of ECOWAS - the key West African economic integration organization, peace and security. The organization has played a significant role in the region's different conflicts.

TRAVEL ADVISORY
The travel advisory for Nigeria (in Danish only) can be found following this link.

AIRPORTS
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos are the countries to major hubs for international and domestic air travel.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND VISAS
A valid passport and visa is required by all visitors. For visa application to Nigeria contact the Nigerian Embassy in Stockholm.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES
If anything goes wrong during your stay in Nigeria, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has developed some general guidelines for what to do (in Danish).