Back to: GEOGRAPHY SS1
Welcome to class!
In today’s class, we will be talking more about Nigeria: location, position and size. Enjoy the class!
Nigeria: Location, Position and Size
Location
Nigeria is located between 4 0 N and 14 0 N of the Equator, and between 30E and 150 E of the Greenwich Meridian. Note that since Nigeria is located between Latitudes 40 N and 14 0 N, the latitudinal extent of Nigeria is 10 0 i.e. 15 0 – 4 0, while her longitudinal extent is 12 0 i.e. 15 0 – 3 0
Position
The position of Nigeria refers to the part of the continent Nigeria is found. Nigeria is in Africa (West Africa). She is bounded in the North by the Niger Republic, in the North-East by the Chad Republic, in the East by Cameroon, in the South by the Atlantic Ocean, and in the West by the Republic of Benin. Nigeria is bounded by French-speaking (Francophone) West African countries.
Size
Nigeria is the fourth largest country in West Africa in terms of land area after the Niger Republic, Mali and Mauritania. The total land area of Nigeria is approximately 923, 768 sq km. The greatest distance from east to west is approximately 1,300 km while from north to south is about 1,100 km. In terms of population, Nigeria is the most populous single country in Africa with a population of over 140 million according to the 2006 population census. Hence, she is often referred to as “The Giant of Africa”.
Evaluation
- Describe the location of Nigeria.
- State the countries that bound Nigeria.
Political division
Nigeria came into existence in 1914 when the Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated; she had her independence in 1960, precisely 1st October 1960. Before this time, Nigeria was governed by colonial masters which include:-
- Sir Fredrick Lord Lugard. (1912 – 1919)
- Sir Hugh Clifford (1919 – 1925)
- Sir Creamer Thompson (1925 – 1931)
- Sir Donald Cameroon (1931 – 1935)
- Sir Bernard Boundillion (1935 – 1943)
- Sir Anthony Richard (1943 – 1948)
- Sir John McPherson (1948 – 1958)
- Sir James Robertson (1958 – 1960)
Nigeria politically is divided into 36 State with the FCT. Each of the State has a slogan or title which can also be used for identifying the state.
The States include the following:-
No | STATE | CAPITAL | TITLE / SLOGAN |
1 | Abia | Umuahia | God’s own State |
2 | Adamawa | Yola | Highest peak of the Nation |
3 | Akwa Ibom | Uyo | Land of promise |
4 | Anambra | Awka | Home for all |
5 | Bauchi | Bauchi | Pearl of Tourism |
6 | Bayelsa | Yenagoa | The glory of all lands |
7 | Benue | Makurdi | Food basket of the Nation |
8 | Borno | Maiduguri | Home of peace |
9 | Cross River | Calabar | The people’s paradise |
10 | Delta | Asaba | The big heart |
11 | Ebonyi | Abakaliki | Salt of the Nation |
12 | Edo | Benin | The heartbeat |
13 | Ekiti | Ado-Ekiti | Fountain of knowledge |
14 | Enugu | Enugu | Coal city State |
15 | Gombe | Gombe | Jewel of the Savannah |
16 | Imo | Owerri | Land of hope |
17 | Jigawa | Duste | The new world |
18 | Kaduna | Kaduna | Liberal State |
19 | Kano | Kano | Centre of commerce |
20 | Katsina | Katsina | State of hospitality |
21 | Kebbi | Birnin Kebbi | Land of equity |
22 | Kogi | Lokoja | The confluence State |
23 | Kwara | Ilorin | State of Harmony |
24 | Lagos | Ikeja | Centre of excellence |
25 | Nasarawa | Lafia | The home of solid mineral |
26 | Niger | Minna | The power State |
27 | Ogun | Abeokuta | The Gateway State |
28 | Ondo | Akure | The sunshine state |
29 | Osun | Oshogbo | State of living spring |
30 | Oyo | Ibadan | The pacesetter state |
31 | Plateau | Jos | Home of peace and tourism |
32 | Rivers | Port-Harcourt | Treasure base of the nation |
33 | Sokoto | Sokoto | Seat of the Caliphate |
34 | Taraba | Jalingo | Nature’s gift to the nation |
35 | Yobe | Damaturu | The young shall grow |
36 | Zamfara | Gusau | Home of Agric. Products |
37 | FCT | Abuja | Centre of unity |
Evaluation
- Nigeria is located on lat………?
- Nigeria is bounded in the north and south by ……… and…………….
General evaluation
- …….. state is regarded as the heartbeat of Nigeria?
- Describe the location of Nigeria.
- State the countries that bound Nigeria.
- What is a scale?
- State the types of scale.
Reading Assignment: Essential Geography, O.A. Iwena Pages 229-230.
Theory
- Write a short note on the location of Nigeria.
- Draw the map of Nigeria showing all the 36 states with the FCT.
In our next class, we will be talking about Nigeria: Relief and Drainage. We hope you enjoyed the class.
Should you any further question, feel free to ask in the comment section below and trust us to respond as soon as possible.
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