One official language, several recognised regional languages
Only English is official at federal level, a choice inherited from the colonial period to unify administratively a country of exceptional linguistic diversity: more than 500 languages are recorded there, making it one of the most multilingual countries in the world. Three languages nevertheless dominate by number of speakers and enjoy special constitutional recognition (they may be used in the National Assembly): Hausa in the mainly Muslim north, Yoruba in the south-west and Igbo in the south-east. Nigerian Pidgin, an English-based creole born in the port and oil areas, has become the country's real inter-ethnic vernacular, spoken daily by tens of millions of people without official status.
English
The sole official language of the federal state, inherited from British colonisation; the language of government, higher education and the national media.
Hausa
Recognised by the Constitution as a language that may be used in the National Assembly; dominant in the north and across the West African Sahel beyond Nigeria's borders.
Yoruba
Language of the south-west, also recognised by the Constitution for use in the National Assembly.
Igbo
Language of the south-east (the former Eastern Region, heartland of Biafra in 1967–1970), also recognised for use in the National Assembly.
Nigerian Pidgin
An English-based creole, the country's most widespread informal lingua franca, used in everyday life and increasingly in the media (BBC Pidgin) and music, although without official status.
Other Niger-Congo and Chadic languages
Nigeria has more than 500 recorded living languages (Fulfulde/Fula, Kanuri, Ijaw, Tiv, Ibibio, Edo...), one of the highest levels of linguistic diversity in the world.