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Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria
Data code: NI
Government type: republic transitioning from military to civilian rule
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 Federal 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 named Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nassarawa, and Zamfara
as part of the process of 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
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and
Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since
9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government
until 29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will
be inaugurated
head of government: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council
and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR
(since 9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government
until 29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will
be inaugurated
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: the president is elected by popular vote for no more
than two four-year terms; election last held 27 February 1999
(next election to be held NA 2003)
election results: Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) won the election with
NA% of the vote, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) NA%
Legislative branch: bicameral
National Assembly consists of Senate (109 seats, three from each
state and one from the Federal Capital Territory; members elected
by popular vote to serve seven-year terms) and House of Representatives
(360 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve seven-year
terms)
elections: Senate—last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to
be held NA 2006); House of Representatives—last held 20-24
February 1999 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA;
seats by party—PDP 61, APP 24, AD 20, other 4; House of Representives—percent
of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PDP 206, APP 74,
AD 68, others 12
note: the National Assembly was suspended by the military government
following the military takeover on 17 November 1993; the new civilian
government which was elected on 20 February 1999 is expected to
be inaugurated on 29 May 1999
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Provisional Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee
Political parties and leaders: political parties, suppressed by the military government, were allowed to form in July 1998; three parties were registered by the Provisional Ruling Council for participation in local, state and national elections; All People's Party or APP [Mahmud WAZIRI]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Soloman LAR]; Alliance for Democracy or AD [Ayo ADEBANJO]
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, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, 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
FAX: [1] (202) 775-1385
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from
the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William H. TWADDELL
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