Names:
conventional long form:
Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form:
Digraph:
NI
Type:
military government since 31 December 1983; plans to institute a
constitutional conference to prepare for a new transition to civilian
rule after plans for a transition in 1993 were negated by General
BABANGIDA
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 in Abuja
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
Independence:
1 October 1960 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Constitution:
1979 constitution still in force; plan for 1989 constitution to 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 and head of government:
Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of
Armed Forces and Defense Minister Gen. Sani ABACHA (since 17 November
1993); Vice-Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council Oladipo DIYA
(since 17 November 1993)
cabinet:
Federal Executive Council
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly
Senate:
suspended after coup of 17 November 1993
House of Representatives:
suspended after coup of 17 November 1993
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
note:
two political party system suspended after the coup of 17 November
1993
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMO, IMF, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC
(observer), OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Zubair Mahmud KAZAURE
chancery:
1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 986-8400
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Walter CARRINGTON
embassy:
2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos
mailing address:
P. O. Box 554, Lagos
telephone:
[234] (1) 610050
FAX:
[234] (1) 610257
consulate(s) general:
Kaduna
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
NOTE: The information regarding Nigeria on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Nigeria Government 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Nigeria Government 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.
