News

65th Independence: 65 quick facts about Nigeria

Published

7 months ago

October 1, 2025

Nigeria celebrates its Independence every 1st October, marking the nation’s declaration of freedom from British dominance as a colonial master.

As Nigeria celebrates its 65th anniversary of independence today, Tribune Online looks at some 65 quick facts you should know about the country.

1 Nigeria is located in West Africa.
2 Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa.
3 Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960.
4 In the Atlantic Ocean, Nigeria is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea to the south.
5 The country covers an area of 923,769 square kilometres (356,669 sq mi).
6 The country borders Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west.
7 Nigeria is a federal republic comprising 36 states.
8 Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria.
9 The official language of Nigeria is English, while the national languages are Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa.
10 Nigeria has over 500 different regional languages.
11 Nigeria is known for its diverse ethnic groups, with over 250 different ethnicities.
12 Nigeria became a republic on October 1, 1963.
14 Nigeria’s three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo.
15 The Nigerian currency is called the Naira.
16 There are 774 local governments in Nigeria.
17 The Federal government of Nigeria comprises three distinct branches, namely the legislative, executive, and judicial.
18 Nigeria has a rich cultural heritage, including traditional dances, music, and artwork.
19 Nigeria is home to various national parks and wildlife reserves, which include Yankari National Park and Cross River National Park.
20 Nigeria’s film industry is referred to as Nollywood.
21 Nigeria has the largest population of people of African descent in the world.
22 Nigeria has a tropical climate, with distinct dry and wet seasons.
23 The country has seen periods of military rule as well as periods of democratic governance.
24 The Niger Delta region of Nigeria is known for its oil reserves.
25 The country has a diverse range of natural resources, including crude oil, tin, limestone, and coal.
26 Nigeria is known for its vibrant fashion industry, with traditional textiles like Ankara fabric being widely used.
27 Nigeria has a rich sporting history, with successes in football, athletics, boxing, and basketball among others.
28 Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a renowned figure in contemporary literature.
29 Nigeria is often referred to as the Giant of Africa due to its large population and economy.
30 Nigeria is a multi-religious country, with Islam and Christianity being the major religions.
31 The amalgamation of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate was done in 1914 by Lord Lugard.
32 Nigeria has a federal system of government, with power shared between the federal and state governments, and local governments.
33 Lake Chad, located in northeastern Nigeria, is a crucial water source for the country.
34 Nigeria is home to Wole Soyinka, the first African Nobel laureate in literature.
35 The country is rich in cultural festivals, including the Argungu Fishing Festival, Egungun Festival, and the Durbar Festival.
36 The Yoruba people of Nigeria have a strong tradition of wooden sculpture and art.
37 In 2015, Nigeria became the first African country to rid itself of the Ebola virus.
38 Nigeria has several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Sukur Cultural Landscape, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, and Aso Rock.
39 Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe’s novel, ’Things Fall Apart’ is one of the most widely read and studied African novels.
40 Nigerian footballer, Jay-Jay Okocha is considered one of the greatest African football players of all time.
41 Lagos was the former capital city of Nigeria before the federal capital was formally moved to Abuja on December 12, 1991 under the administration of General Ibrahim Babaginda.
42 Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa.
43 The Nigeria flag has two green stripes and a white stripe.
44 The Nigeria national motto is ‘Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.’
45 Nigeria’s current national anthem is ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee.’
46 The Nigeria coat of arms features an eagle, representing strength, and a shield, representing agriculture and the natural resources of the country.
47 Nigeria is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Nigeria has produced many notable writers, including Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Wole Soyinka.
48 A Nigerian, Aliko Dangote, is the richest man in Africa.
49 The first newspaper in Nigeria, ‘Iwe Irohin fun awon ara Egba ati eya Yoruba,’ was established in Abeokuta, Ogun state, in 1859.
50 Nigerian late legendary musician and activist Fela Kuti is well known for his Afrobeat music and his criticism of government corruption and human rights abuses.
51 Nigeria has a growing music industry, producing internationally recognized artistes like Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy among others.
52 Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of Cassava.
53 Nigeria has a large diaspora population, with Nigerians living in virtually all countries around the world.
54 Nigeria is divided into six geopolitical zones: North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, and South-South.
55 Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe was the first ceremonial president of Nigeria.
56 Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the first prime minister of Nigeria.
57 Nigeria is a member of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
58 The country has a diverse music scene, with popular genres including Afrobeat, Afro-pop, hip-hop, fuji, and gospel music.
59 The Nigerian Civil War, otherwise known as the Biafra war, lasted from 1967 to 1970 and resulted in widespread violence and a significant loss of life.
60 Britain annexed Lagos, Nigeria as a crown colony in August 1861 with the Lagos Treaty of Cession.
61 Nigeria has a diverse transportation system, including road networks, railways, and waterways.
62 Nigeria has a rich history of traditional kingdoms and empires, such as the Benin Empire, Bornu Empire, and the Oyo Empire.
63 The Zuma Rock is one of the most famous geological landmarks in Nigeria.
64 The current President of Nigeria is Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
65 Nigeria’s Super Falcons are the national female football team that has won an international trophy 10 times, securing their record-breaking 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in 2025.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 449

News

Senate names new minority whip as two more senators defect to APC

Published

4 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Senate on Wednesday appointed Senator Tony Nwoye as the new Minority Whip, following a fresh wave of defections that has further boosted the numerical strength of the All Progressives Congress in the upper chamber.

Nwoye, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District, was unanimously selected by the Senate minority caucus to fill the vacancy created by the exit of his predecessor.

His emergence comes on the heels of the defection of former Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC on Wednesday, one of several high-profile crossovers that altered the balance within the opposition ranks.

In a letter read on the floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ngwu said his decision was driven by the need to align with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah and President Bola Tinubu.

He also described the APC as the most stable political platform in the country.

Nwoye was elected into the Senate in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party before defecting to the African Democratic Congress in late 2025, positioning him within the opposition bloc prior to his new leadership role.

The reshuffle in minority leadership came amid a broader pattern of defections that has steadily eroded the strength of opposition parties in the Senate since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

In a related development, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, representing Gombe South, also announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, citing internal crises within the opposition party.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada, formally announced his defection from the Social Democratic Party to the APC.

Wadada, who has also been endorsed as the APC consensus governorship candidate for Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 elections, said he had previously aligned with the ruling party but completed the formal procedures of his defection on Wednesday.

Reacting to the developments, Senator Adams Oshiomhole commended the lawmakers, describing their defections as voluntary and consistent with constitutional provisions.

He said the increasing movement of legislators into the APC reflects growing confidence in the party’s leadership and the administration of President Tinubu.

With the latest defections, the APC’s strength in the Senate has risen to 91 lawmakers—further consolidating its dominance and tightening its grip on legislative proceedings as political realignments gather pace ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Post Views: 19

News

Lagos clarifies sanitation modalities, warns defaulters ahead of April 25

Published

5 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Lagos State Government has provided further details on the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise, set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with movement restrictions and enforcement measures in place.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said, “The exercise will hold every last Saturday of the month between the hours of 6:30 am and 8:30 am.

During this period, there will be controlled movement across the state to allow residents to carry out thorough cleaning of their homes, surroundings and drainage frontages.”

He stated that enforcement teams comprising officials of the ministry, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Kick Against Indiscipline, Lagos Waste Management Authority, and local government sanitation inspectors would “conduct physical inspections during and after the sanitation window to ensure compliance,” warning that “defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.”

Wahab also stated, “LAWMA intervention trucks will go around to cart away bagged wastes generated during the exercise,” noting that “there will be rewards for the cleanest Local Government Area, Local Council Development Area, and the cleanest street as part of efforts to encourage healthy competition and community participation.”

He urged residents to cooperate with the initiative, saying, “We urge all residents to take ownership of this exercise and join hands with the government in building a cleaner, safer and more sustainable Lagos.”

The clarification follows the symbolic flag-off of the exercise along the Mushin–Agege Motor Road corridor on March 14, ahead of its full implementation later this month.

The state government had earlier announced in March that the sanitation exercise would resume nearly a decade after it was suspended in November 2016 following a legal pronouncement restricting movement during the programme.

While some residents have welcomed the move, saying it could curb indiscriminate waste disposal and reduce flooding, others have raised concerns about enforcement, warning that movement restrictions could be abused and calling for sustained public education on proper waste management.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 28

News

Court remands suspected coup plotters in DSS custody

Published

5 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of six defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services after they were arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism.

At the sitting, which commenced at about 1:46pm, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), informed the court that the charge was ready and sought leave to have it read to the defendants.

Proceedings were briefly stalled after the third defendant informed the court that his counsel was indisposed, while counsel to the sixth defendant said his client understood only Arabic and Hausa, prompting the court to stand down the matter to secure an interpreter.

When the court reconvened at about 2:18 pm, all six defendants took their pleas and denied the allegations, pleading not guilty to the 13 counts.

Following the arraignment, the prosecution applied for their remand in DSS custody and urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing of the case, a request that was not opposed by most defence counsel, although the first defendant’s lawyer indicated an intention to file a bail application.

Ruling, the trial judge ordered an accelerated hearing, directed that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody with access to their lawyers, and adjourned the matter till April 27, 2026, for commencement of trial.