AP Nigeria

Archive for the ‘Nigeria Travel Guide’ Category

VACCINATIONS:
- Compulsory: Yellow Fever
- Recommended: Hepatitis AB, Tetanus, Typhoid and Meningitis.

HEALTH CONDITIONS:
The tap water is not drinkable. It is recommended to drink bottled water, although cases of adulteration are common. Likewise avoid ice in drinks.

- The risk of malaria (Malaria) is high. Antimalarial treatment is recommended (before, during and after the trip) and use an insect repellent. Consult the Health Service Exterior next.

- The high number of cases of people infected by HIV / AIDS (in Nigeria the majority of patients have been infected through heterosexual intercourse and blood transfusions) and Hepatitis B makes it advisable to avoid sexual contact and only choose transfusion in cases of extreme necessity.

- The number of water-borne diseases is high, so it is not advisable to swim in rivers or Charge or walking barefoot in the water.

- In case of serious illness, it is recommended the immediate repatriation because local hospitals have huge shortages of equipment, medicines, expertise …

The Niger enters Nigeria from the northwest, crosses the western part of the country and empties into the Atlantic Ocean to the south the country.

Near the coast, the river forms a delta with mangrove swamps, lagoons and marshes in a strip that extends along about 100 miles inland. The Niger Delta is the largest in Africa, covering some 36,000 square kilometers.

HEALTH
Nigerian laws require that every tourist has been vaccinated against yellow fever and cholera before entering the country. It is also advisable to be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, tetanus, typhoid and meningitis.

Medical services are very different from the Western world. The diagnosis and treatment is usually in most cases inadequate and many medicines are not available.

The counterfeiting of drugs is a common problem that makes the distinction between those who are genuine and which are not. This often happens when purchased at local pharmacies or markets.

While Nigeria has well-trained doctors, hospitals in general are weak due to poor training of health teams. Payment for medical services should always be in cash.

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WEATHER
Nigeria has two distinct climatic zones. Along the coast the equatorial maritime air mass allows for high humidity and heavy rainfall.

To the north the tropical continental air mass brings dry winds and dust-laden (wind ‘harmattan’) from the Sahara. The temperature varies considerably with the season, as rainfall, which are much higher in the south.

Between March and May, temperatures can reach 45 º C in the north. On the coast, the average temperature is between 5 º C and 10 º C.

The heaviest rains occur between April and October. Rainfall varies between 2,500 mm in Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta, to 870 mm in Kano in the north.

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CAPITAL. Abuja (378,671 inhabitants).

EXTENSION. 923,768 square miles.

POPULATION. 126 635 626 (census of July 2002).

ETHNIC COMPOSITION. There are over 250 different ethnic groups mainly emphasizing hausa (29%), Yoruba (21%), Ibo (18%), Fulani (11.2%), Ibibio (5.6 %)…

LANGUAGE. Have come to identify over 374 languages. However, the official language remains English. Other languages also important are the Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo and Fulani.

RELIGION. 50% Muslims, 40% Christian and 10% followers of traditional beliefs.

GOVERNMENT. Federal republic. Was a British colony until 1960, when it gained independence.

Nigeria, a country of great natural attractions and perfect places to practice ecotourism. Before starting our tour is worth mentioning that in this country hundreds of native languages spoken, although the official language is English so communication will not be difficult.

If you dare to know the wild side, then we have to go toward the Yankari National Park that sits on the Bauchi central, northeastern Nigeria. It is worth mentioning that this park was established as such in 2006 and today is one of the most visited country, and here you can see in their natural habitat to elephants, gorillas, lions and hippos .

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Nigeria is characterized by a large river system, whose most important rivers are the Niger and its main tributary, the Benue. The northern, drier due to the influence of the harmattan (dry wind from the Sahara), covers an area of plateaus and savannahs, where cotton and peanuts are grown for export.

The central plains, also covered by grasslands, are very sparsely populated. The southern region of low, wet lands, dense forests and has concentrated much of the population, which is the largest in Africa. There is cultivated cocoa and oil palm. The vast Niger Delta coast divides into two distinct areas.

To the east, around Port Harcourt, oil production is concentrated and Christianized population of the Ibo ethnic group, is the area that wanted independence with the name of Biafra. To the west, around Lagos and Ibadan, industrial activity is concentrated and dominated by ethnic Yoruba, partly Islamized. Nigeria has lost between 70 and 80% of its original forests. Only 1.7% of the land is protected in natural areas.

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