Have you ever wondered why all regions in Nigeria follow the same time zone, even though the sun rises nearly an hour earlier in the east than in the west? The answer lies in historical decisions rather than geographical logic.

Nigeria stretches across longitudes 2.7°E to 14.6°E, meaning that, based strictly on solar time, different parts of the country should experience varying local times. Using a simple calculation:
• Every 1° of longitude equals 4 minutes of time difference.
• The difference between Nigeria’s westernmost and easternmost points is 11.9° of longitude.
• 11.9° × 4 minutes = 47 minutes 36 seconds of time difference.

Why Doesn’t Nigeria Have Multiple Time Zones?

Given this natural variation, one might expect Nigeria to have multiple time zones. If we strictly followed solar time:
• The westernmost parts of Nigeria would align with UTC+0:15.
• The easternmost parts would be closer to UTC+1:00.

However, for administrative and economic convenience, Nigeria follows UTC+1 (West Africa Time, WAT)—a decision made during the colonial era that has remained unchanged.

This is common worldwide. Many countries prioritize a single time zone over strict solar alignment to maintain uniformity in governance, trade, and daily activities.

The Takeaway

Time zones are human-made constructs, often shaped by historical and political decisions rather than natural solar cycles. Next time you check the time, remember—it’s not just a fact of nature, but a choice made by those in power at some point in history.