NIGERIA
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Standard 1
The World in Spatial Terms
Maps and other geographic representations
Reference Maps
Political Maps
Thematic Human Geography
- Ethnic
map of Nigeria
- Map of Yorubaland
- Distribution of population
clusters
- Population
density map of Africa, 1979. This map is out of date, but it has good
cartographic design.
- Population
density
- The following maps from Shell Oil can serve as a potentially interesting
case study on the propaganda of maps and the critical evaluation of cartographic
materials. Here is the main Shell map index.
For example, examine the bright, cheerful color choices for the following
map showing ecological
zones of the Niger Rive delta. Also, note the way Shell uses its own colors
in its simple reference
map of Nigeria and its neighbors. How do these colors affect the viewer’s
perceptions of Shell’s activities in Nigeria? Consider this question in light
of the environmental degradation and conflict that has occurred in the oil-producing
regions of the Niger Delta (see standards 14 and 16 for more information).
- Islam
in Africa, 1987
- The diffusion
of Islam into West Africa
- Contemporary Map of Islam
in Africa
- Historical trade
map of Africa
- Interactive maps of Africans and the diaspora
- Land use
images from the middle 1970s to the middle 1990s (scroll down to maps). Note
the time series maps of vegetation intensity.
- Infrastructure
and transportation map
Historical Human Geography
- Ancient
map of "Nigeria"
- 1707
Map of Africa (University of Minnesota)
- 1808
Map of Africa, "Africa" from Brookes, R., The General Gazetteer; or Compendious
Geographical Dictionary. Eighth Edition. Dublin, 1808.
- 1890
Map of Africa, "Africa" from Americanized Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol.
1, Chicago 1892
- 1913
map of religious geography, "Africa Religions and Missions" from Literary
and Historical Atlas of Africa and Australasia, by J.G.Bartholomew 1913.
- Historical maps of West
Africa and rainfall map in inches and centimeters (you will need to scroll
down)
Physical Maps
Thematic Physical Geography
Data Sources
- Central Intelligence Agency World
Factbook
- United Nations’ Infonation
interactive database (address is for Africa section)
- Basic environmental data and statistics from the World
Resources Institute. This site includes good statistics on agriculture
land per capita, potable water supply (urban/ rural), forest cover change
over last ten years, sanitation service availability (rural/urban), biodiversity,
and energy.
- United States Geological Survey Africa
Data Dissemination Service
- Main towns and cities index
- Distance
between major cities
- World Bank main
site. Country level data
- U.S. Department of State’s Geographic
Learning Site
- United Nations Population Fund not Nigeria-specific,
but deals with some of the broader population issues
- Climatic
data for Lagos, Ibadan, and Kano (great for constructing climagraphs)
- United Nations Food and Agriculture FAOSTAT
- Health statistics (extensive)
from the United States Agency for International Development
- United Nations Statistics Division - "Population of capital cities
and cities of 100,000 or more inhabitants"
- International
Energy Agency Nigeria page
- World
Health Organization’s "Preliminary Nigeria Briefing Book"
- Water
& Environment Data 1990 - 1995, from Mbend
