Nigeria
 |
Population: | 149,229,090 |
| Capital: | Abuja | |
| Language: | English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani | |
| Literacy Rate: | 68% | |
| GDP/PP: | $2,300 | |
| Joined Commonwealth: |
1 October 1960 (suspended 1995, readmitted 1999) |
Media
Nigeria's media scene is one of the most vibrant in Africa. State-run radio and TV services reach virtually all parts of the country and operate at a federal and regional level. All 36 states run their own radio stations, and most of them operate TV services.
Radio is the main source of information for many Nigerians and international broadcasters, including the BBC, are widely listened to. Rebroadcasts of foreign radio stations were banned in 2004.
Private radio and TV stations have been licensed, and there is substantial take-up of pay TV.
High costs and scarce advertising revenues in particular dog private TV stations. Moreover, legislation requires that locally-made material must comprise 60% of output. Viewing is concentrated in urban areas.
There are more than 100 national and local newspapers and publications, some of them state-owned. They include well-respected dailies, tabloids and publications which champion the interests of ethnic groups. The lively private press is often critical of the government.
Press freedom improved under former President Obasanjo, but restrictive decrees remain.
Media rights body Reporters Without Borders says Nigeria is often a violent place for the press, with journalists suffering beatings, unfair arrests and police raids.
By March 2008, 10 million Nigerians were online (ITU figure).
Newspapers
The Guardian - influential, privately-owned national daily
The Champion - Lagos-based daily
The Daily Times - Lagos-based government daily
The Punch - privately-owned daily
New Nigerian - government daily, separate editions in Lagos and Kaduna
The Daily Independent - Lagos State-based daily
Daily Trust - Abuja-based daily
Leadership - Abuja-based daily
The Comet - private, daily
Vanguard - Lagos-based, widely-read daily
This Day - widely-read Lagos-based daily
The Daily Sun - Lagos-based
Newswatch - weekly news magazine
Tell - weekly news magazine
Television
Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) - state-run, operates scores of national and regional stations; national services broadcast in English
Degue Broadcasting Network (DBN) - private
AIT - private, owned by DAAR Communications, broadcasting in Lagos and Abuja and via pan-African satellite service
Minaj TV - private, serves eastern Nigeria and operates cable and satellite service
Silverbird TV - private, serves Lagos, Port Harcourt
Galaxy TV - private, serves western Nigeria
Channels TV - private
Radio
Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) - state-run, operates "Radio Nigeria" stations in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Enugu
Voice of Nigeria - external service, via shortwave
Ray Power - private, owned by DAAR Communications, runs music-based and speech-based FM stations
Freedom Radio - private, based in northern city of Kano
News agency
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) - government-owned
