Social networking in Nigeria

The BBC's Abdullhai Kaura Abubakar looks at the internet habits of Nigerians in northern Nigeria.

I visited the Nine Stars Internet Cafe along Tafawa Balewa Way, one of the thousands of internet cafes scattered all over the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna.

The social networking phenomenon, Facebook's distinctive blue and white front page featured prominently among the rows of computer monitors.

In the Nine Stars Internet Cafe, computers were occupied by users of various age groups and of the eleven using the internet, six were on Facebook, busy chatting excitedly with friends.

I introduced myself to some of the people using Facebook and asked them to tell me why they like and use it.

Most said that it gave them the opportunity to stay in touch with loved ones around the world and to make new friends.

They said that before Facebook, economic problems had made it difficult for them to stay in touch.