The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a federal constitutional republic located in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria has 36 states and a Federal Capital Territory, and is the most populous country in Africa with over 200 million people. Nigeria was a British colony from 1851 to 1960, and its economy has long been centered around oil production, though oil revenue has been mismanaged, leading to debt and corruption issues.

2. Nigeria The Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Capital Territory

3. Geography Nigeria, one-third larger than Texas and the most populous country in Africa, is situated on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa.

4. Niger River NASA Space Shuttle Overflight photo of the Niger Delta. North is on the left.

5. Colonial heritage From 1851 to 1960 Nigeria was a Crown Colony of the British Empire.

6. Lagos Crammed, dirty, and corrupt, Lagos was the colonial capital and primary shipping port for goods exported from Nigeria’s exploited heartland.

7. Lagos is the home for nearly 20 million people.

8. IMF Nigeria is among the countries the IMF considers most at risk. This woman sells fruit in Lagos.

9. Abuja In 1976, it was decided to move the national capital from the port city of Lagos to a new city located near the centre of the country.

10. Goodluck Johnathan First elected along with Umaru Yar'Adua as his vice-president in 2007, he served as acting president when Yar'Adua's failing health prevented him from working. He inherited the presidency in May 2010 when his predecessor died, and went on to win elections in April 2011.

11. Bantu migrations Nigeria is believed to be the original homeland of the Bantu migrants who spread across most of central and southern Africa in waves in the 3000-year time period preceding 1100 C.E.

12. Nigerian Oil Since all effort was put into developing this profitable resource, other economic sectors, like agriculture and mining, were neglected. Nigeria’s economy is centered around oil… unfortunately.

13. Drilling for oil Oil drilling rigs, like this one in the Soku oil field is one of the many the Dutch-based Shell Oil has in Nigeria. Many blame Shell, however, for the widespread pollution (below) of its environment and corruption of its government.

14. Economy The country also wound up being heavily in debt to other nations and with a corrupt government that mismanaged funds (those that weren’t embezzled anyway).

16. Stolen crude Nigerian produces 2.256 million barrels of oil a day. Oil theft and sabotage is a daily problem.

17. Many feel that corporate links to military power keeps Nigeria subjugated to oil interests .

19. Reform efforts Only recently has the government started making reforms to get the country out of debt and restructure the economy thanks to the International Monetary Fund ’s Public Support Instrument (PSI).

20. Joint Ventures Workers on an oil rig in Nigeria where prudent management of oil savings and revenues is key to unleashing country's potential and to reducing poverty. (photo: AFP) The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , a nationalized state corporation manages all joint ventures between foreign multi-national corporations and the Nigerian federal government.

21. With home offices in Houston and Australia, Worley Parsons backed a joint venture in 2003 in Lagos, Nigeria to form DeltaAfrik Engineering Ltd.

22. This government-run engineering, procurement and construction management company (EPCM) involves Nigeria’s Oil & Gas, Power and Infrastructure sectors.

23. Benin Empire Not to be confused with the modern country of Benin, this was a pre-colonial African state in what is now modern Nigeria .

24. Yoruba One of the largest ethno-linguistic groups in West Africa numbering nearly 30 million (21%), they are found predominantly in Nigeria.

25. Yoruba bronze head sculpture, Ife, Nigeria c. 12th century A.D. Ife bronze casting of a Kings head currently in the British Museum

26. July 18, 2006—Traditional Ibo dancers perform at the Sullivan Summit luncheon in Abuja. Approximately 18% of Nigerians consider themselves Ibo. Ibo

27. Hausa A Sahelian people chiefly located in the West African regions of northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger numbering 30-35 million.

28. Nobel-winning author Wole Soyinka delivers a lecture at the Hague