An oil-rich Cinderella state that still hasn't quite made it to the ball.
The very thing that makes Nigeria so ornery and difficult to unite into a single peaceful republic is also its attraction. There are over 250 different peoples, languages, histories, and religions all rubbing shoulder to shoulder in this hectic, colourful and often volatile republic.
The Niger Delta region, comprising the southeastern states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Anambra are considered very dangerous with an ongoing threat of attacks on and kidnapping of foreign oil workers. Travellers should avoid this region.
Lagos has a poor reputation for street crime and carjackings.
Religious tensions bubble under the surface, and mass unrest isn't uncommon - keep your ear to local news sources.
See what travellers are saying about Africa at Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum .
severity: High-level alert
Federal Republic of Nigeria
130,000,000
Name: Naira
Code: NGN
Symbol: ₦
240V 50Hz
Official: English
GMT/UTC + 1
+234
Metric
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podcast by Paul Clammer, October 2005
Paul Clammer reckons there's nothing scary about Nigeria, except maybe the goat's head soup... Join him on his pot-holed journey. Read the full article ›
Tags: Nigeria
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