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Sub Saharan Africa

Nigeria
Last reviewed: 13 February 2008

Country information

Area: 923,768 sq km (356,700 sq miles)
Population: 144.7 million (World Bank, 2006)
Capital City: Abuja (6 million)
Other Major Cities: Lagos, Ibadan, Kano and at least 7 other cities with a population of over 1 million
People: Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw and some 250 ethno-linguistic groups
Language(s): English (official) but Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo are also used in the National Assembly
Religion(s):Muslim, Christian and traditional
Currency: Naira (NGN)
Major political parties: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress (AC) )
Head of State: President Umaru Yar'Adua (inaugurated 29 May 2007)
Vice-President: Goodluck Jonathan
Foreign Minister: Ojo Maduekwe
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations (UN), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU), Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Commonwealth, African Development Bank (ADB). 

Advance Fee Frauds

Many people and companies in the UK (and elsewhere) receive letters, faxes and e-mails, purporting to come from Nigerian individuals or government departments, offering them large sums of money in exchange for allowing use of their bank accounts. These are frauds, and the money does not exist. The fraudsters obtain contact details from various sources, including telephone and commercial directories, so recipients are not being specifically targeted.

We recommend that people do not reply to these communications. The fraudsters are either trying to obtain details of bank accounts so that they can raid them, or will be told that there are various 'advance fees' that have to be paid before the money can be transferred. Examples of these fees are processing fees, legal fees, bribes or air tickets. People have lost thousands of pounds in these frauds.

If you wish to find out any more information on these fraudulent correspondences please contact fraud desk at the Metropolitan Police.

Please contact them via e-mail: fraud.alert@met.police.uk

Country information

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Travel Advice

Travel Advice: Nigeria

See Also

Useful Links

• BBC News Country Profile: Nigeria BBC News: Africa
• IMF Country Reports - Nigeria
• DFID - Nigeria Country Assistance Plan
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• World Bank
• African Union
• The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)
• ECOWAS
• Nigerian Government website
• UK Trade and Investment Country Profile: Nigeria
• Hansard website
• British Council
• 

Contacts

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