Type of government: military government; Nigeria has been ruled by one military regime after another since 31 December 1983; on 1 October 1995, the present military government announced it will turn power over to democratically elected civilian authorities in October 1998
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; note - some new
administrative units may have been created
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 military takeover of 17 November 1993
House of Representatives: suspended after military takeover of 17
November 1993