Nigeria (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum)

Federal Republic of Nigeria Jamhuriyar Tarayyar Najeriya [ha] Orílẹ̀-èdè Olómìniira Àpapọ̀ Nàìjíríà [yo] Hukumaare Hautugo Naajeeriya [ff] Timeline: Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum OTL equivalent: Nigeria minus Biafra
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress
Anthem:  Arise, O Compatriots
Location of Nigeria (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum) Location of Nigeria (in green)
Capital		Abuja
Official languages		English
National languages		Hausa • Yoruba • Fulani
Ethnic groups		Hausa; Yoruba; Fulani; Igbo; Ibibio; Tiv; Kanuri; Ijaw
Religion		Islam; Christianity; Traditional religions
Demonym		Nigerian
Government		Federal state; Constitutional presidential republic
-	President	Atiku Abubakar
-	Vice President	Peter Obi
Legislature		National Assembly of Nigeria
-	Upper house	Senate
-	Lower house	House of Representatives
Establishment
-	Independence from the United Kingdom	October 1, 1960
Currency		Naira (₦) (NGN)
Time zone		WAT (UTC+1)
Internet TLD		.ng
Calling code		+234

Nigeria (Hausa: Najeriya; Yoruba: Nàìjíríà; Fulani: Naajeeriya), formally the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Hausa: Jamhuriyar Tarayyar Najeriya; Yoruba: Orílẹ̀-èdè Olómìniira Àpapọ̀ Nàìjíríà; Fulani: Hukumaare Hautugo Naajeeriya), is a country in West Africa between the Sahel region in the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the south. It has an area of 846,463 square kilometers (326,821 square miles sq mi) with a population of over 200 million people, making it the most populated country in Africa and the sixth-most populous country in the world. Nigeria is bordered to the north and west by the West African Federation, to the northeast by the Central African Republic, to the east by Cameroon, and to the southeast by Biafra. Nigeria is a federal republic made up of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, which includes the capital, Abuja. Lagos is Nigeria's largest city, with one of the world's largest metropolitan areas and the second-largest in Africa.

Since the second millennium BC, Nigeria has been home to various indigenous pre-colonial nations and kingdoms, with the Nok civilization in the 15th century BC being the country's first internal union. The contemporary state arose from British colonialization in the nineteenth century, obtaining its current territorial structure with Lord Lugard's 1914 merger of the Southern and Northern Nigeria Protectorates. In the Nigeria region, the British established administrative and legal institutions while exercising indirect rule through traditional chiefdoms. In 1951, Nigeria gradually became a self-governing federation within the British commonwealth which paving a way for the complete independence on October 1, 1960 with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as its prime minister.

Since its inception, Nigeria was marred by political instabilities. The first of them was the January 1966 coup that killed Prime Minister Balewa and other significant political leaders. Counter-coup on July 1966 resulted to the tensions between north and south and eventually led to a bloody civil war between 1967 and 1975, resulting to the independence of Igbo-dominated southeastern region as Biafra. The coup in July 1975 ousted ruling military leader Yakubu Gowon and brought the civil war to the conclusion. As a result of the coup, General Murtala Muhammed rose to the national leadership, restored political stability and encouraged economic growth.

During a failed coup in 1976, Muhammed survived an attempt to his life, consolidating further control on military. Under Muhammed, reconciliation between the north and south was achieved and civilian rule was carefully restored through the Constituent Assembly election in 1978. Muhammed was elected as civilian President of Nigeria in 1979, governing for 20 years before voluntarily stepping down in 1999. A controversial figure, Muhammed's reign was marked by both brutal repression, and economic prosperity, which greatly improved the quality of life in Nigeria. Muhammed's successor, Babagana Kingibe significantly relaxed political oppression of the previous administration. Since then, Nigeria has achieved stable democracy with free and fair elections.

Nigeria is an African regional power as well as a middle and growing world power. Nigeria's economy is the largest in Africa, the 31st largest in the world in terms of nominal GDP, and the 26th largest in terms of PPP. Nigeria is known as the "Giant of Africa" due to its massive population and economy, and the World Bank classifies it as an emerging market. However, the country scores very low in the Human Development Index and is one of the world's most corrupt countries. Nigeria is a founding member of the African Union and a member of many international organizations, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth Confederation, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Economic Community of West African States, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and OPEC. It is also a member of the informal MINT group of countries and is one of the Next Eleven economies.

History