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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Zubair Mahmud KAZAURE

chancery:

1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone:

[1] (202) 986-8400

consulate(s) general:

New York

US diplomatic representation:

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

branch office:

Abuja

consulate(s) general:

Kaduna

Flag:

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