Nigeria trivia: 48 questions and answers

Abuja. Abuja has been the capital since 1991. Lagos, the former capital, is still the largest city.

True. True. With more than 240 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa.

English. English is the official language. Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo are the largest of more than 500 languages, and Nigerian Pidgin is heard everywhere.

The Niger River. The name comes from the Niger River, which flows through the country. It was suggested in 1897 by the journalist Flora Shaw.

False. False. Nigeria became independent from Britain on 1 October 1960, now celebrated every year as Independence Day.

The Northern and Southern Nigeria Protectorates. On 1 January 1914 the Northern and Southern Nigeria Protectorates were joined into the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.

Benin City. The Benin Bronzes were taken from the royal palace of Benin City in 1897. Since the 2020s some museums abroad have begun to return pieces.

Usman dan Fodio. The Fulani scholar Usman dan Fodio founded the Sokoto Caliphate in 1804; by the 1830s it was the most populous state in West Africa.

True. True. The war began in 1967 and ended in January 1970, when Biafra surrendered after 30 months of fighting.

True. True. Abuja officially became the capital on 12 December 1991, fifteen years after it was chosen in 1976.

Jollof rice. Jollof rice is cooked in one pot in a tomato and pepper sauce. Nigerians and Ghanaians enjoy arguing about whose version is best.

A soft dough such as pounded yam, eaten with soup. A swallow is a soft dough such as pounded yam, eaten with soup; eba and amala are other favourites. A small piece is dipped in the soup and eaten with the right hand.

Melon seeds. Egusi soup is made with ground melon seeds, which cook into soft curds, together with palm oil, greens and meat or fish.

Spiced grilled meat on skewers. Suya is spiced grilled meat on skewers: thin slices rubbed with yaji, a spice mix with ground peanuts and chilli. It comes from the Hausa north.

Hibiscus. Zobo is made from dried hibiscus flowers boiled with ginger, then sweetened and served cold.

True. True. In 2020 Nigeria produced about 67 percent of the world's yams, which are used for pounded yam, amala and many other dishes.

False. False. Eat, give and take with your right hand; using the left hand is seen as rude.

Acarajé. In Brazil akara became acarajé, a famous street food of Salvador da Bahia.

Lagos. Lagos is Nigeria's largest city and one of the largest in Africa. It was the capital until 1991.

Enugu. Enugu grew up after coal was found there in 1909. Its name means "hill top" in Igbo.

True. True. Port Harcourt, founded in 1912 to export coal, turned to oil when Nigeria's first crude oil was shipped from there in 1958.

False. False. Jos lies about 1,200 m above sea level, so its climate is cooler than most of the country.

Aso Rock. Aso Rock rises about 400 m above the land around it, and the Presidential Complex, the National Assembly and the Supreme Court stand at its foot.

Zuma Rock. Zuma Rock, a giant dome of rock beside the road from Abuja to Kaduna, appears on the 100 naira note.

True. True. The grove, sacred to the Yoruba river goddess Osun, was added to the World Heritage List in 2005.

False. False. As of 2026 the Kano walls are only on UNESCO's tentative list. Nigeria's two World Heritage Sites are Sukur and the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.

Abeokuta. Olumo Rock stands in the middle of Abeokuta, and visitors climb it for a view over the city.

A natural warm spring. At Yankari visitors can swim in a natural warm spring, the clear Wikki Warm Spring.

Nollywood. Nollywood, a blend of Nigeria and Hollywood, is based mainly in Lagos. By the number of films made each year it is often ranked second in the world, after India and ahead of Hollywood.

Chinua Achebe. Chinua Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart, which has been translated into more than 50 languages.

Fela Kuti. Fela Kuti created Afrobeat, a mix of West African music with jazz, funk and soul. Burna Boy, Wizkid and Davido are stars of a much later generation.

More than 500. More than 500 languages are spoken in Nigeria, making it one of the most language-rich countries on Earth.

2. As of 2026 Nigeria has 2 sites: the Sukur Cultural Landscape (1999) and the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove (2005).

True. True. Chappal Waddi, 2,419 m high on the Mambilla Plateau, is the highest point in Nigeria and in West Africa.

Horses. Horses are at the heart of the Durbar: horsemen in bright robes parade and charge towards the emir, then stop and salute him.

Water. Omi means water. Fish is ẹja, pepper is ata and yam is iṣu.

King or monarch. Ọba means king or monarch, as in the Oba of Benin. Child is ọmọ.

Èkó. Lagos is called Èkó in Yoruba. Ìbàdàn, Ọ̀yọ́ and Ifẹ̀ are other Yoruba cities.

True. True. Yoruba has high, middle and low tones. Accents mark the high and low tones, and the middle tone is usually left unmarked.

Na gode. Na gode means thank you. Sannu is hello, sai gobe is see you tomorrow and don Allah is please.

Hello. Sannu is a simple hello, used at any time of day.

True. True. Ina kwana? is the morning greeting and literally asks how you slept. The usual answer is lafiya lau, fine.

When asking for something politely. Don Allah means please, so you say it when asking for something politely. To greet someone at work you say sannu da aiki.

False. False. Taimaka! means help!; thank you is na gode.

112. The emergency number in Nigeria is 112. There is no national ambulance service, so good travel insurance matters.

Yellow fever. Visitors must show a certificate of yellow fever vaccination, with exemptions only for small babies and older adults.

False. False. As of 2026 visas on arrival are no longer given; visitors must apply online before they travel.

True. True. Ask before photographing people, and never photograph government or military sites or airports.