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65th Independence: 65 quick facts about Nigeria

Published

1 year 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.

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SEE FULL LIST: NJC recommends 28 candidates for judicial appointments

Published

9 hours ago

November 5, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended 28 candidates for appointment as judicial officers across six states, including 24 candidates for various State High Courts.

The recommendations cover the High Courts of Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun states, the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.

The Council announced the recommendations in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe.

It said the decisions were taken at its 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun.

According to the Council, one candidate was recommended as Grand Kadi of the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, while another was recommended as Kadi of the Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal.

Two others were recommended as judges of the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.

The appointment includes “24 High Court candidates and four candidates for the Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal.”

The full list of the 28 recommended candidates is as follows:

PLATEAU STATE SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL (GRAND KADI)

1. Tijjani Jibrin Zololo

KANO STATE HIGH COURT

2. Nafisah Yusuf Hassan
3. Halima Yahuza Ahmad
4. Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature
5. Musa Ibrahim Umar

EBONYI STATE HIGH COURT

6. Dickson Edmund Amaga

EDO STATE HIGH COURT

7. Benson Osagie Osawaru
8. Taiye Osayanmon Omoruyi
9. Dorothy Ibhade Adamaigbo
10. Festus Osagie Usiobaifo
11. Pius Idemudia Oiwoh
12. Majebi Samuel Amune
13. Emike Jessica Imuekemhe

ADAMAWA STATE HIGH COURT

14. Aminu Sa’ad
15. Ibrahim Ulenda Musa
16. Sadiq Giwa
17. Musa Bala Mijinyawa
18. Japhet Ibrahim
19. Aliyu Bakari
20. Yakubu Ahmadu

OGUN STATE HIGH COURT

21. Olakulehin Luqman Abiola Oke
22. Adebimpe Folusho Obienu
23. Fatimat Adeola Daudu
24. Rafiat Bolanle Kadiri
25. Oludotun Olaniyi Osho

ADAMAWA STATE SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL (KADI)

26. Abubakar Ishaku

ADAMAWA STATE CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL

27. Elshama Gwama Dimas
28. David Benjamin Pembi

The NJC said all the recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.

Source: punchng.com

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JD Vance reveals Iran war cost Republicans midterm elections, read details

Published

10 hours ago

November 5, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

United States Vice President JD Vance has blamed the Iran war for the Republican Party’s poor performance in the 2026 midterm elections, saying many supporters of President Donald Trump switched allegiance to Democrats over dissatisfaction with the conflict.

Vance said this in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, arguing that the party’s defeat was not primarily caused by poor voter turnout but by the defection of voters who supported the Trump-Vance ticket in 2024.

He said data analysis conducted by his team before the elections had shown that Republican supporters were turning out in significant numbers, despite opinion polls predicting a major Democratic victory.

“One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was ‘composition’—whether the electorate looked close enough to 2024 for Republicans to win,” he said.

Vance explained that although turnout was encouraging in several states, a member of his data team had warned him that many Republican voters were angry and might not vote for the party.

“Well, that looks prophetic now. Our voters did show up. In Florida, for example, the electorate was nine points more Republican than Democrat, just a couple points worse than 2024,” he said.

“But the main problem is not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026.”

The Vice President acknowledged that the party might have failed to communicate its economic policies effectively, particularly on the cost of living and inflation.

However, he said the major reasons voters abandoned the Republicans were concerns about the war, economic hardship, America’s foreign policy priorities and its relationship with Israel.

According to Vance, a pollster who accurately predicted the election outcome identified four major demands among former Republican supporters who switched to the Democrats.

The demands were to end the war, prioritise the cost of living and inflation, put America first and change the country’s relationship with Israel.

“The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night,” Vance stated.

He also defended television personality Rachel Campos-Duffy, saying her earlier call for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict had proved politically sound.

Vance warned against attempts by Republican establishment figures to attribute the party’s electoral setback to other issues, particularly immigration policy.

He said he was open to reviewing immigration enforcement strategies, including targeting businesses that employ undocumented workers, but rejected calls for amnesty.

“Anyone pushing amnesty is lying to you,” he said.

The Vice President challenged those who believed the war was worth the political cost to defend that position openly, noting that the defeat could cost Republicans control of the Senate for the next six years.

“If you’d like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next six years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay,” he said.

“Agree or disagree, that’s at least honest.”

Despite the setback, Vance expressed optimism about the country’s future, urging disappointed Republican supporters to channel their anger into rebuilding the party and electing candidates who share their political views.

“Let’s take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country,” he added.

Source: punchng.com

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UK to strengthen immigration enforcement with facial recognition

Published

10 hours ago

November 5, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The United Kingdom government plans to expand live facial recognition technology to strengthen immigration enforcement and identify individuals who have violated immigration rules.

The initiative, being developed by the Home Office, could see facial recognition cameras deployed at transport hubs and public events to help immigration officers identify people who have overstayed their visas, entered the country unlawfully or breached their immigration conditions.

According to policy documents published in October and sighted by PUNCH Online on Thursday, the proposed expansion could extend the technology’s use to general immigration enforcement, including civil immigration violations that do not necessarily involve criminal offences.

The development comes as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood seeks to intensify immigration enforcement through increased funding, additional personnel and expanded deportation operations.

The Home Office said the technology would help officers identify individuals subject to removal proceedings and those attempting to re-enter the UK unlawfully.

The policy documents also suggest that facial recognition could reduce the need for repeated enforcement visits to residential properties and workplaces.

Authorities have already conducted three trials of the technology at Holyhead port in north Wales between November 2025 and February 2026. The trials focused on identifying individuals travelling from Ireland who were subject to deportation orders or wanted over immigration-related criminal offences.

The programme has now entered its formal delivery phase, with officials considering wider deployments at transport hubs and large public gatherings.

A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that further trials were being considered while the government examined the potential benefits and implications of the technology.

U K Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “Facial recognition technology has been the biggest breakthrough for catching criminals since DNA matching, already helping police take thousands of dangerous criminals off our streets.

“The benefits are clear, but we must ensure that its use is fair, safe and proportionate.

“It is right we put in place clear laws to ensure that the use of this technology is watertight, so the public can have confidence that these tools, which are vital to our safety, are used responsibly too.”

However, the proposed expansion has raised concerns among civil liberties organisations and migrant rights advocates over privacy, surveillance and the possibility of inaccurate identification.

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants described the development as a significant escalation of immigration enforcement powers, while the Open Rights Group questioned the transparency of the plans, public consent and the absence of comprehensive legislation governing facial recognition.

Critics have also warned that the technology could disproportionately affect people of colour because of concerns about identification accuracy.

Meanwhile, Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner William Webster has questioned whether existing regulatory arrangements are sufficient to oversee the expanding use of facial recognition across government agencies.

Under the proposed policy, individuals under 18 will not be included on facial recognition watchlists.

Source: punchng.com

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