Discover
The identity of the nation
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and one of the most diverse in the world, with more than 250 ethnic groups and hundreds of languages. The country was born from the union, carried out by the British, of very different kingdoms and empires, which shaped a nation of deep contrasts: between the Muslim majority north and the Christian majority south, between oil wealth and the poverty of much of the population, between one of Africa’s most dynamic economies and grave security challenges.
The Nigerian church is one of the largest and most vibrant on the African continent, marked by lively worship, steady growth and a strong movement sending workers to other nations across Africa and the world. At the same time, the north of the country holds one of the region’s largest populations still unreached by the gospel, many of them majority Muslim with little or no access to a church in their own language.
Violence marks the lives of millions of Nigerians, especially in the northeast, where armed groups spread terror, and in the so called Middle Belt, where conflicts between farmers and herders mix with religious and ethnic tensions. Christian communities are among those hardest hit by attacks, kidnappings and the destruction of villages, but they continue to stand firm with remarkable faith.
Despite these challenges, Nigeria is also a nation of hope: amid poverty and insecurity, initiatives of reconciliation, discipleship and care for orphans and families displaced by violence are flourishing. The creativity of the Nigerian people shows in music, film and entrepreneurship, reflecting a vitality that also shapes the life of the church.
Praying for Nigeria means praying for one of the most strategic countries in the world for the advance of the gospel: for protection for persecuted Christians, for peace between ethnic groups and religions, and for the peoples of the north who still wait to hear the message of Christ in their own language.
- Before the arrival of Europeans, kingdoms and empires such as Oyo, Benin, Calabar and the Sokoto Caliphate flourished in the region, with strong trade and political organization.
- 15th-19th centuries European traders reach the coast and the trafficking of enslaved people dominates the coastline for centuries, until it is abolished.
- 19th century The first Christian missionaries arrive on the southern coast; translation of the Bible into Yoruba begins.
- 1861 The British Empire annexes Lagos as a colony.
- 1864 Samuel Ajayi Crowther, born in the region, becomes the first African Anglican bishop.
- 1914 The Northern and Southern protectorates are united, forming the colony and protectorate of Nigeria.
- 1960 Independence from the United Kingdom, on October 1st.
- 1967-1970 Civil war (Biafra): the attempt to secede by the southeastern region causes widespread famine and more than a million deaths.
- 1999 End of decades of military rule; return to democracy.
- 2009 The insurgent group Boko Haram emerges in the northeast, beginning years of armed conflict.
- Today Africa's largest population and largest economy, with one of the continent's most numerous churches and grave challenges of ethnoreligious violence in the north and the Middle Belt.
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Englishofficial language, used in government, education and communication between ethnic groups
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Nigerian Pidgininformal lingua franca spoken on the streets, in the media and in daily life
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Hausamain language of the north, spoken by tens of millions
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Yorubamain language of the southwest
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Igbomain language of the southeast
Nigeria lies on the west coast of Africa, washed by the Gulf of Guinea, and borders Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The landscape changes from south to north: mangroves and tropical forests along the coast, savannas in the central belt, and the edges of the Sahara desert in the far north, crossed by the great Niger and Benue rivers.
Major cities
- LagosLargest city in the country and in West Africa, financial and cultural hub
- AbujaFederal capital, a planned city in the center of the country
- KanoMain commercial and historic center of the north
- IbadanOne of the largest cities in the southwest, Yoruba land
- Port HarcourtHeart of the oil industry, in the Niger Delta
- KadunaImportant northern hub, on the cultural border between the Muslim north and the Christian south
- EnuguFormer coal mining hub, a cultural symbol of the Igbo people
Climate and temperature
Jollof rice
Rice cooked with tomato, pepper and spices, a symbol of West African cuisine.
Suya
Meat skewers seasoned with a spicy blend of ground peanuts, sold at street stalls.
Egusi
A hearty soup made with ground melon seeds, leafy greens and meat or fish.
Pounded yam
A smooth, stretchy dough made from boiled, pounded yam, served with everyday soups.
Akara
Fried black eyed pea fritters, common at breakfast.
Moin moin
A steamed black eyed pea cake, with pepper and spices.
Fufu
A dough made from fermented cassava or yam, a traditional side for soups.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Ethnic diversity
More than 250 ethnic groups and hundreds of languages coexist within the same country.
Music and creativity
Afrobeat was born in Nigeria and the local film industry, Nollywood, has worldwide reach.
Extended family
Uncles, cousins and grandparents are part of the household and of everyday decisions.
Public, intense faith
Both the Christian and Muslim faiths are lived out expressively and communally.
Hospitality
Welcoming visitors with food and conversation is a sign of honor and respect.
Entrepreneurship
Informal trade is a central part of the economy and of city life.
Respect for elders
Elders and traditional leaders are treated with special deference.
- Treating the north and south as if they were the same These are regions with very different histories, religions and cultures.
- Commenting carelessly on ethnic or religious tensions These are sensitive wounds; listen more than you speak.
- Refusing food that is offered It is considered disrespectful to hospitality.
- Dressing immodestly, especially in the north Modest dress is valued in majority Muslim areas.
- Joking about scams or fraud The stereotype of the Nigerian scam hurts those who work honestly.
- Ignoring hierarchy and structures of respect Greeting leaders and elders with deference is essential.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Conflicts between armed groups and communities over land, faith and ethnicity leave a trail of fear and revenge.
Groups such as Boko Haram use the name of religion to spread terror and enslave entire communities.
The diversion of public funds deepens poverty and undermines trust in institutions.
Beliefs in traditional spiritual powers still shape decisions and generate fear in many communities.
A distorted Christian message ties faith to material wealth, turning people away from the true gospel.
Oil wealth coexists with extreme poverty for much of the population.
Traditional African beliefs blend with Christian and Muslim practice in many regions.
Constant fear of attacks and ransom demands paralyzes entire communities.
The practice, common in several cultures of the country, weakens the biblical model of family.
Historic rivalries between ethnic groups still fuel distrust and conflict.
Nigeria faces one of the most severe situations of violence against Christians in the world. In the northeast and in the so called Middle Belt, the band of states forming the transition between the Muslim majority north and the Christian majority south, churches are attacked, villages are burned and Christian families are killed or driven from their land. Armed groups such as Boko Haram and factions linked to the Islamic State kidnap, attack schools and churches, and impose terror above all on Christian communities.
In the Middle Belt states, such as Plateau, Benue and Kaduna, conflicts between Christian farmers and armed Muslim herders add land disputes to religious and ethnic motives, leaving a trail of destroyed villages. In several northern states, where Islamic law applies to criminal matters, Christians and Muslims who decide to follow Christ face rejection from their own family, loss of property and, in extreme cases, risk of death.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a common tool of extortion and intimidation, affecting pastors and entire families. Despite this grave situation, the Nigerian church is one of the largest and most vibrant in Africa: it grows in number, in prayer and in sending its own workers, even under constant pressure.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Nigeria brings together 531 ethnic groups, of which 49 are still considered unreached people groups, most concentrated in the Muslim majority north, among groups such as the Hausa, the Kanuri and nomadic Fulani communities. Despite this enormous need, the country is also home to one of the largest and most vibrant churches in Africa, with a strong Christian and evangelical presence in the south and in the Middle Belt. The gap between these two realities, peoples with no access to the gospel in the north and a thriving church in the south, makes Nigeria one of the most strategic countries for prayer and for sending workers within the continent itself.
- 73.8M Unreached 30,5%
- 2.6M Minimally reached 1,1%
- 739K Superficially reached 0,3%
- 28.5M Partially reached 11,8%
- 136.5M Significantly reached 56,4%
- 49 Unreached 9,2%
- 51 Minimally reached 9,6%
- 8 Superficially reached 1,5%
- 287 Partially reached 54%
- 136 Significantly reached 25,6%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Bade
Shanga
Duwai
Árabe Sírio
Dendi dandawa Frontier
Uandala Frontier
Kanuri yerwa
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
Lagos is far more expensive than the rest of the country
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn some Nigerian Pidgin expressions: it makes everyday communication much easier.
- Pay extra attention to safety, especially at night and in conflict areas in the north and the Middle Belt.
- Carry cash: not every place accepts cards and access to ATMs can be limited.
- Heavy traffic in big cities: allow extra time for any trip.
- Unstable electricity: power cuts are common and many places rely on generators.
- Modest, respectful dress is well received, especially in the Muslim majority north.
- The warmth of Nigerian hospitality is genuine; accept invitations to family meals.
- WhatsApp is the main channel for communication and business.
- Check the regional security situation before traveling to the north or the Middle Belt.
- Bottled or filtered water is recommended for drinking.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.