Nigerians speak a vast array of languages, with over 520 native languages spoken across the country. The official language of Nigeria is English, which is used in government, business, education, and media, and is spoken by about 60 million people. English serves as the main lingua franca to promote national unity and avoid favoring any particular ethnic group
. Besides English, the three major national languages widely spoken are Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. Hausa is predominantly spoken in the north by over 60 million people (including second-language speakers), Yoruba is common in the southwest with around 40-50 million speakers, and Igbo is spoken mainly in the southeast by over 30 million people
. Nigerian Pidgin, an English-based creole, is also very popular as a lingua franca and social language, spoken by over 30 million Nigerians. It is commonly used in informal settings and mass media
. Other significant regional languages include Ibibio, Fulfulde, Kanuri, Tiv, Edo, Efik, and many more, reflecting Nigeria's linguistic diversity that spans three major African language families: Niger-Congo, Afroasiatic, and Nilo- Saharan
. In summary:
- Official language: English
- Major national languages: Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo
- Widely spoken lingua franca: Nigerian Pidgin
- Hundreds of other native languages from diverse language families
This linguistic diversity makes Nigeria one of the most multilingual countries in the world
