Nigeria - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Nigeria, it was named for the Niger River that flows through the west of the country to the Atlantic Ocean; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir". The Government system in this country is the federal presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
National symbols
Eagle; national colors: green, white.
The flag
The National flag of Nigeria has three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green; the color green represents the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, white stands for peace and unity.
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The National Anthem
| Title | "Arise Oh Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey" |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | John A. ILECHUKWU, Eme Etim AKPAN, B.A. OGUNNAIKE, Sotu OMOIGUI and P.O. ADERIBIGBE/Benedict Elide ODIASE |
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note: adopted 1978; lyrics are a mixture of the five top entries in a national contest
More about the government of Nigeria
| Date of Independence | 1 October 1960 (from the UK) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960) |
| Legal system | mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999 |
| Amendments | Proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses and approval by the Houses of Assembly of at least two thirds of the states; amendments to constitutional articles on the creation of a new state, fundamental constitutional rights, or constitution-amending procedures requires at least four-fifths majority vote by both houses of the National Assembly and approval by the Houses of Assembly in at least two thirds of the states; passage of amendments limited to the creation of a new state require at least two-thirds majority vote by the proposing National Assembly house and approval by the Houses of Assembly in two thirds of the states; amended several times, last in 2018 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Nigeria |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 15 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023) |
| Head of government | President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023) |
| Cabinet | Federal Executive Council appointed by the president but constrained constitutionally to include at least one member from each of the 36 states |
| Elections/appointments | president directly elected by qualified majority popular vote and at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states; president elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 25 February 2023 (next to be held on 27 February 2027) note - the president is chief of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces |
| Election results | 2023: Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU elected president; percent of vote - Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (APC) 36.6%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 29.1%, Peter OBI (LP) 25.4%, Rabiu KWANKWASO (NNPP) 6.4%, other 2.5% 2019: Muhammadu BUHARI elected president; percent of vote - Muhammadu BUHARI (APC) 53%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 39%, other 8%
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| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Bicameral National Assembly consists of: Senate (109 seats - 3 each for the 36 states and 1 for Abuja-Federal Capital Territory; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) House of Representatives (360 seats statutory, 258 current; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) |
| Elections | Senate - last held on 25 February 2023 (next to be held in February 2027) House of Representatives - last held on 25 February 2023 (next to be held in February 2027)
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| Election results | Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 59, PDP 36, LP 8, NNPP 2, SDP 2, YPP 1, APGA 1; composition - men 105, women 4, percentage women 3.7% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 178, PDP 114, LP 35, NNPP 19, APGA 5, other 7, vacant 2; composition - men 344, women 14, percentage women 3.8%; note - total National Assembly percentage women 3.9%
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| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 15 justices) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a 23-member independent body of federal and state judicial officials; judge appointments confirmed by the Senate; judges serve until age 70 |
| Subordinate courts | Court of Appeal; Federal High Court; High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; state court system similar in structure to federal system |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Rabiu LAWAL, (since 10 June 2024) |
| Chancery | 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 800-7201 (ext. 100) |
| FAX | [1] (202) 362-6541 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Atlanta, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires David GREENE (since 31 March 2023) |
| Embassy | Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja |
| Mailing address | 8320 Abuja Place, Washington DC 20521-8320 |
| Telephone | [234] (9) 461-4000 |
| FAX | [234] (9) 461-4036 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://ng.usembassy.gov/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Lagos |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 2 (both cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Sukur Cultural Landscape; Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Nigeria
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Nigeria
Want to know more about Nigeria? Check all different factbooks for Nigeria below.
