<human>:  What is the history of the African nation of Nigeria?
<bot>: Nigeria is a country located in West Africa along the Gulf of Guinea. It has a population of over 190 million people, making it Africa's most populous nation. The history of Nigeria stretches back to antiquity, with the Nok culture and the Late Paleolithic era in what is now eastern Nigeria, while the territory later became part of the powerful empires of Bornu, Hausa, and Kanem–Bornu. During the period of European colonization, Nigeria became a British protectorate, and later achieved independence in 1960. The modern nation of Nigeria is a federal constitutional republic composed of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Since its independence, Nigeria has experienced periods of instability in its various governments, with persistent ethnic, religious, and political tensions. Nonetheless, it remains a vibrant, diverse, and economically prosperous nation, with a long and rich cultural heritage.