Country name
conventional long form : Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria

Data code NI

Government type military government; Nigeria has been ruled by one military regime afteranother since 31 December 1983; on 1 October 1995, the present military governmentannounced it will turn power over to democratically elected civilian authoritiesin October 1998

National capital Abuja
note : on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja;many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities inAbuja

Administrative divisions 30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Capital Territory*, Adamawa,Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu,Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun,Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe
note: the government has announced the creation of six additional states namedBayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nassarawa, and Zamfara as part of the processof transition to a civilian government

Independence 1 October 1960 (from UK)

National holiday Independence Day, 1 October (1960)

Constitution 1979 constitution still partially in force; plan for 1989 constitutionto take effect in 1993 was not implemented

Legal system based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law

Suffrage 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief ofArmed Forces and Defense Minister Gen. Sani ABACHA (since 17 November 1993);Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council Oladipo DIYA (since 17 November1993); note - the chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council is both the chiefof state and head of government
head of government: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief ofArmed Forces and Defense Minister Gen. Sani ABACHA (since 17 November 1993);Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council Oladipo DIYA (since 17 November1993); note - the chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council is both the chiefof state and head of government
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: none; Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council Gen. Sani ABACHA assumedpower in a military coup 17 November 1993; the government's provisions fora return to civilian rule call for the election of a president by universalsuffrage in the third quarter of 1998 (inaugeration planned for October 1998)

Legislative branch National Assembly
note: the National Assembly was suspended after the military takeover of 17November 1993; in October 1995, the government announced a three-year programfor transition to civilian rule; elections to the National Assembly are totake place in the second quarter of 1998

Judicial branch Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Armed Forces Ruling Council;Federal Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the federal government onthe advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee

Political parties and leaders political party system, which was suspended after the military takeoverof 17 November 1993, was reestablished by the Provisional Ruling Council on30 September 1996 with the registration of five of 15 competing politicalparties; these were the United Nigeria Congress Party or UNCP [Isa MOHAMMED,chairman]; National Center Party of Nigeria or NCPN [Magaji ABDULLAH, chairman];Grassroots Democratic Movement or GDM [Gambo LAWAR, chairman]; Comittee forNational Consensus or CNC [Abel UBEKU, chairman]; Democratic Party of Nigeriaor DPN [Sale HASSAN, chairman]

International organization participation ACP, AfDB, C (suspended), CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP,UNTAES, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Wakili Hassan ADAMU
chancery: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Walter C. CARRINGTON
embassy: 2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos
mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos
telephone : [234] (1) 261-0097
FAX: [234] (1) 261-0257

Flag description three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green

NOTE: The information regarding Nigeria on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Nigeria Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Nigeria Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.