Random Facts About Nigeria III

Here is another list of interesting facts about Nigeria. Expect something slightly different soon!

• Nigeria is one of a few countries (others are Afghanistan and Pakistan) where polio is still endemic. India was taken off the ‘endemic’ list early this year, though it has not been declared a polio free country yet. North and South America were declared polio-free in 1994. Europe was declared polio-free in 2002.
• The flowers on the base of the Nigerian Coat of Arm are those of Costus spectabilis. It was chosen because it is found throughout Nigeria.
• Nigeria is the second largest importer of rice after Indonesia. It imported 2.1 million tons in 2011.
• Kainji Dam across the Niger River in Nigeria is one of the longest dams in the world. It has a length of about 8 kilometers. Construction lasted 4 years and was completed in 1968. It was officially commissioned by Major General Yakubu Gowon in 1969.
• The Nigerian National Assembly has two chambers: The upper chamber, or Senate, which has 109 seats and the lower chamber, or House of Representative, which has 360 members.
• Kaduna was made the capital of the British colony of Northern Nigeria in 1913.
• Fela (the late Afrobeat singer) was sent to London to study medicine but he opted to study music instead at the Trinity College of Music.
• The National Honours Act No. 5 of 1964 instituted the Nigerian National Honours. Below is a list of the honours in decreasing order of importance:

                Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR)

                Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)

                Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR)

                Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)

                Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR)

                Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON)

                Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR)

                Member of the Order of the Niger (MON)