• Embassy of Nigeria São Tomé
  • Avenda kwame Nkrumah. C.P. 1000, Sao Tome

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About nigeria Tourism

Diverse Land and People

Tourism is also one of the growing sectors of the Nigerian economy. The industry was accorded priority status in 1990 when the National Tourism Policy was launched. The main thrust of Government policy on tourism was to generate foreign exchange earnings, create employment opportunities, and promote rural enterprises and national integration among other things.

Experience Rich Diversity

Tourists visiting the country will gain insights into a glorious past and a promising future, set amid the natural beauty of this diverse country. From rain forests in the south, and broad savanna woodlands in the center, to a semi-desert region in the north, Nigeria offers a remarkable range of physical beauty in her land and the hospitality of her people, ready to be enjoyed by the tourists fortunate enough to choose this land of ancient empires as their travel destination
The richness and diversity of the Nigerian culture is a manifestation of the socio-cultural differences of the over 250 ethnic groups that have inhabited the land for ages. Nigeria offers a wide variety of tourist attractions such as extended and roomy river and ocean beaches ideal for swimming and other water sports, unique wildlife, vast tracts of unspoiled nature ranging from tropical forest, magnificent waterfalls, some new rapidly growing cities, and climatic conditions in some parts particularly conducive to holidaying. Other attractions include traditional ways of life preserved in local customs; rich and varied handicrafts and other colourful products depicting or illustrative of native arts and lifestyle, and the authentic unsophisticated but friendly attitude of many in the Nigerian population.
However, many of these attractions are still largely untapped, and even in their raw state, they are still being enjoyed by a few outsiders, either wealthy visitors in quest of exoticism or adventurous people searching for new challenges and experiences. Investors, both foreign and local are therefore called upon to come and invest in the abundant tourism potential in the country. The richness and diversity of Nigeria’s tourism resources coupled with economic liberalisation policies will provide investment opportunities in various areas as follows:
  • Heritage/Cultural Tourism Resources Development of slave trade relics.
  • Establishment of museums and preservation of monuments.
  • Wildlife Tourism Resources.
  • Development of hiking trails and Jeep tracks in the national parks.
  • Development of picnic and camping sites at strategic locations within the trail
  • circuit system in the national parks.
  • Building of tourist lodges.
  • Building of reception centres at Natural/Physical Attractions.
  • Provision of cable cars to take tourists through the very rugged but scenic terrain
  • of the mountains especially in Kanyang, Obudu and Mambilla Plateau.
  • Construction of lodge cabins for expedition tourists and rangers.
  • Establishment of hotels and resorts near waterfalls, springs, caves and
  • temperate climate areas such as Obudu, Jos and Mambilla Plateau.
  • Beach Tourism potentials Establishment of boating and sport fishing facilities.
  • Development of water transportation Provision of educational facilities for water
  • skiing and swimming.
  • Establishment of holiday resorts along the coasts.
  • Development of Amusement parks, entertainment facilities and shopping
  • services.
  • Development of arts and crafts which constitute symbols of the people’s cultural
  • values and love for nature.

Vibrant Culture

With over 250 ethnic groups, Nigeria's cultural landscape is incredibly varied. The Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo are the three largest groups, with the Hausa-Fulani concentrated in the north, the Yoruba in the southwest, and the Igbo in the southeast.

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Known as the most populous Black country globally, it is rich in natural resources like oil and gas. It's a diverse nation with a complex history. Come and have a feel of what Nigeria has to offer.
Vibrant Culture
Find A Place for you
Because of the great diversity of people and cultures, Nigeria has distinguished herself over the centuries in the field of arts. Nigerian versatility in art is so great that it is generally felt that all African nations should view Nigeria as the principal trustee of the most durable fruits of black artistic genius. It is not precisely known when the first works of Nigerian art reached the outside world, but in 1897, following a British punitive expedition to Benin, over 2,000 Benin bronzes and ivories were shipped to England and later dispersed all over Europe and America. The oldest sculptures found in Nigeria were from the Southern Zaria and Benue areas of central Nigeria. They consist of terracotta figures and figurines made by people who achieved a high degree of cultural sophistication. These sculptures, together with other cultural elements, have been named the Nok Culture. Evidence shows the Nok people had knowledge of iron smelting and adorned themselves with tin and stone beads, earrings, noserings, and bracelets. The Nok Culture is dated between 500 B.C. and 200 A.D. The next known phase of Nigerian cultural evolution was Igbo Ukwu bronze casting. Found in the small village of Igbo-Ukwu, near Awka, the casts date from the 9th Century A.D. They first came to light in 1938 and consist of staff heads, crowns, breastplates, pendants, ornaments, anklets, wristlets, and chains. At about the same time the Igbo-Ukwu people were casting bronze, the ancient Ife people were also producing works in bronze, copper, and terracotta. In the first quarter of this Century, Ife works caused a great stir among world art critics and historians who were unaccustomed to such naturalism in African art. The best-known Nigerian artworks are the Benin Antiquities. Legend recounts how the Benin people learned the art of bronze casting from Ile-Ife around 1400 A.D. Oba Ogunta, the sixth King of Benin, is credited with having encouraged this art in Benin.
Nigeria's cultural heritage is woven from threads of history and diversity, legend and conquest. Tourists visiting the country will gain insights into a glorious past as well as a promising future, set amid the natural beauty of this diverse country. From rain forests in the south, and broad savanna woodlands in the center to a semi-desert region in the north, Nigeria offers a remarkable range of physical beauty in her land and the hospitality of her people, ready to be enjoyed by the tourists fortunate enough to choose this land of ancient empires as their travel destination. Nigeria is a vast country with a population of about 120 people covering about 923,768 sq. km of landmass, located wholly within the tropics. The country aptly described as the 'Giant of Africa' is richly endowed with ecological and cultural resources, which are of universal recognition. The richness and diversity of the Nigerian culture is a manifestation of the socio-cultural differences of the over 250 ethnic groups that inhabit the land for ages. Tourism is one of the growing sectors of the Nigerian economy. The industry was accorded priority status in 1990 when the National Tourism Policy was launched. The main thrust of Government policy on tourism was to generate foreign exchange earnings, create employment opportunities, promote rural enterprises and national integration among other things. In recognition of the immense contributions of tourism to the national economy, the country's Vision 2010 set the year 2005 as the nation's year of tourism. The obvious implication of this development is that tourism policies and programs will now be aimed at making Nigeria the "Ultimate Tourism Destination in Africa" by the year 2005.

About Nigeria Climate

Temperatures across the country are relatively high with a very narrow variation in seasonal and diurnal ranges (22-36t). There are two basic seasons; the wet season which lasts from April to October; and the dry season which lasts from November till March. The dry season commences with Harmattan, a dry chilly spell that lasts till February and is associated with lower temperatures, a dusty and hazy atmosphere brought about by the North-Easterly winds blowing from the Arabian peninsular across the Sahara; the second half of the dry season, February - March, is the hottest period of the year when temperatures range from 33 to 38 degrees centigrade. The extremes of the wet season are felt on the southeastern coast where annual rainfall might reach a high of 330cm; while the extremes of the dry season, in aridity and high temperatures, are felt in the Northern third of the country.
Nigeria Resources

AGRICULTURAL, MINERAL, AND MARINE

Nigeria, in addition to its huge population, is endowed with significant agricultural, mineral, marine, and forest resources. Its multiple vegetation zones, plentiful rain, surface water, underground water resources, and moderate climatic extremes allow for the production of diverse food and cash crops. Over 60 percent of the population is involved in the production of food crops such as cassava, maize, rice, yams, various beans and legumes, soya, sorghum, ginger, onions, tomatoes, melons, and vegetables. The main cash crops are cocoa, cotton, groundnuts, oil palm, and rubber. Extractions from these for export and local industrial use include cocoa flour and butter, rubber crumbs, vegetable oil, cotton fiber, and yarn. The rainforests have been well exploited for timber and wood products of exotic and popular species. Oil and Gas, by value, are the most important minerals. They are exploited and produced in the Niger Delta basin and off-shore on the continental shelf and in the deep-sea of the territorial waters. Nevertheless, there are significant non-oil mineral deposits on land many of which have been identified and evaluated: coal, iron ore, gypsum, kaolin, phosphates, limestone, marble, columbine, baryte, and gold.

Nigeria Government

The Federal Republic of Nigeria consists of thirty-six states, and the administrative headquarters and the capital city is Abuja located in the Federal Capital Territory, which is geographically situated in the middle of the country. Effective participation in governance by all adults is assured through the sharing of powers, revenue, and responsibilities between the three tiers of government, i.e. the Federal Government, the State Governments, and the various Local and Municipal Councils of the federation
Nigeria Resources

Nigeria
Geography

Nigeria is in the West African region and lies between longitudes 3 degrees and 14 degrees and latitudes 4 degrees and 140 degrees. It has a landmass of 923,768 sq. km. It is bordered to the north by the Republics of Niger and Tchad. It shares borders to the west with the Republic of Benin, while the Republic of Cameroun shares the eastern borders right down to the Atlantic Ocean's shores, forming the southern limits of Nigerian Territory. The about 800km of coastline confers on the country the potential for maritime power. Nigeria's land is abundant for agricultural, industrial, and commercial act

Nigeria Vegetation

In line with the rainfall distribution, a wetter south and a drier northern half, there are two broad vegetation types: Forests and Savanna. There are three variants of each, running as near parallel bands east to west across the country. Forests Savanna Saline water swamp Guinea Savanna Fresh water swamp Sudan Savanna Tropical (high) evergreen Sahel Savanna. Rainforest There is also the mountain vegetation of the isolated high plateau regions on the far eastern extremes of the country (Jos, Mambilla, Obudu). The savanna, especially Guinea and Sudan, are the major grains, grasses, tubers, vegetable, and cotton growing regions. The Tropical evergreen rain forest belt bears timber production and forest development, production of cassava; and plantation growing of fruit trees - citrus, oil palm, cocoa, and rubber, among others.
Nigeria Embassy in São Tomé