conventional long form:
Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form:
Nicaragua
local long form:
Republica de Nicaragua
local short form:
Nicaragua
Digraph:
NU
Type:
republic
Capital:
Managua
Administrative divisions:
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Boaco,
Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon,
Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, North Atlantic Coast Autonomous
Zone (RAAN), Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, South Atlantic Coast
Autonomous Zone (RAAS)
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
9 January 1987
Legal system:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990); Vice
President Virgilio GODOY Reyes (since 25 April 1990); election last
held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held November 1996); results -
Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN)
40.8%, other 4.5%
cabinet:
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional):
elections last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held November
1996); results - UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats -
(92 total) UNO 41, FSLN 39, "Centrist" (Dissident UNO) 12
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leaders:
ruling coalition:
National Opposition Union (UNO) is a 10-party alliance - moderate
parties: National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS Lacayo,
president; Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto
SOMARRIBA, Arnold ALEMAN; Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Luis
Humberto GUZMAN, Agustin JARQUIN, Azucena FERREY, Roger MIRANDA,
Francisco MAYORGA; National Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ;
National Action Party (PAN), Duilio BALTODANO; UNO - hardline parties:
Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO,Virgilio GODOY
Reyes; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo POTOY, Alfredo CESAR
Aguirre, secretary general; Conservative Popular Alliance Party
(PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO; Communist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli
ALTIMIRANO Perez; Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel
opposition parties:
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA; Central
American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS; Democratic Conservative
Party of Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose BRENES; Liberal Party of National
Unity (PLUIN), Eduardo CORONADO; Movement of Revolutionary Unity
(MUR), Francisco SAMPER; Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick RAMIREZ;
Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA; Social
Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando AGUERRO; Popular Action Movement -
Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ; Popular Social Christian
Party (PPSC), Mauricio DIAZ
Other political or pressure groups:
National Workers Front (FNT) is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight
labor unions: Sandinista Workers' Central (CST); Farm Workers
Association (ATC); Health Workers Federation (FETASALUD); National
Union of Employees (UNE); National Association of Educators of
Nicaragua (ANDEN); Union of Journalists of Nicaragua (UPN); Heroes and
Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations (CONAPRO); and the
National Union of Farmers and Ranchers (UNAG); Permanent Congress of
Workers (CPT) is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor
unions: Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS); Autonomous
Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A); Independent General Confederation
of Labor (CGT-I); and Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS);
Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN) is an independent labor union;
Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is a confederation of
business groups
Member of:
BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU,
LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Roberto MAYORGA Cortes
chancery:
1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 939-6570
consulate(s) general:
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador John MAISTO
embassy:
Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua
mailing address:
APO AA 34021
telephone:
[505] (2) 666010 or 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032
through 34
FAX:
[505] (2) 666046
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the
national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on
the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El
Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white
band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars
arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
@Nicaragua, Economy
Overview:
Since March 1991, when President CHAMORRO began an ambitious economic
stabilization program, Nicaragua has had considerable success in
reducing inflation and obtaining substantial economic aid from abroad.
Annual inflation fell from more than 750% in 1991 to less than 5% in
1992. Inflation rose again to an estimated 20% in 1993, although this
increase was due almost entirely to a large currency devaluation in
January. As of early 1994, the government was close to finalizing an
enhanced structural adjustment facility with the IMF, after the
previous standby facility expired in early 1993. Despite these
successes, achieving overall economic growth in an economy scarred by
misguided economic values and civil war during the 1980s has proved
elusive. Economic growth was flat in 1992 and slightly negative in
1993. Nicaragua's per capita foreign debt is one of the highest in the
world; nonetheless, as of late 1993, Nicaragua was current on its
post-1988 debt as well as on payments to the international financial
institutions. Definition of property rights remains a problem;
ownership disputes over large tracts of land, businesses, and homes
confiscated by the previous government have yet to be resolved.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-0.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,600 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
20% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13%; underemployment 50% (1991)
Budget:
revenues:
$375 million (1992)
expenditures:
$410 million (1992), including capital expenditures of $115 million
(1991 est.)
Exports:
$228 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
foodstuffs, cotton, coffee, chemicals
partners:
EC 26%, US 26%, Japan, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico (1992)
Imports:
$907 million (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing
partners:
US 26%, Venezuela, Costa Rica, EC, Guatemala (1992)
External debt:
$10.5 billion ( 1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; accounts for 20-25% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
434,000 kW
production:
1.118 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
290 kWh (1992)
Industries:
food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing,
petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear
Agriculture:
crops account for about 15% of GDP; export crops - coffee, bananas,
sugarcane, cotton; food crops - rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit,
beans; also produces a variety of animal products - beef, veal, pork,
poultry, dairy products; normally self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-92), $620 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$1.381 billion
Currency:
1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
gold cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 6 (10 January 1993), 5 (1992); note -
gold cordoba replaced cordoba as Nicaragua's currency in 1991
(exchange rate of old cordoba had reached per US$1 - 25,000,000 by
March 1992)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Nicaragua, Communications
Railroads:
373 km 1.067-meter narrow gauge, government owned; majority of system
not operating; 3 km 1.435-meter gauge line at Puerto Cabezas (does not
connect with mainline)
Highways:
total:
25,930 km
paved:
4,000 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone 2,170 km; graded earth 5,425 km; unimproved
earth 14,335 km
Pan-American highway:
368.5 km (not in total)
Inland waterways:
2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
Pipelines:
crude oil 56 km
Ports:
Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama
Merchant marine:
2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,161 GRT/2,500 DWT
Airports:
total:
208
usable:
149
with permanent-surface runways:
11
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
13
Telecommunications:
low-capacity radio relay and wire system being expanded; connection
into Central American Microwave System; 60,000 telephones; broadcast
stations - 45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave; earth stations - 1
Intersputnik and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
@Nicaragua, Defense Forces
Branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 946,177; fit for military service 582,669; reach
military age (18) annually 45,555 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $43.0 million, 1.6% of GDP (1992)
@Niger, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, between Algeria and Nigeria
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1.267 million sq km
land area:
1,266,700 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total 5,697 km, Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina 628 km, Chad
1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger; demarcation of
international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to
border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification
by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; Burkina and Mali are proceeding
with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger
Climate:
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:
predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in
south; hills in north
Natural resources:
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates
Land use:
arable land:
3%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
7%
forest and woodland:
2%
other:
88%
Irrigated land:
320 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife
populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, and lion) threatened
because of poaching and habitat destruction
natural hazards:
recurrent droughts
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note:
landlocked
@Niger, People
Population:
8,971,605 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.36% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
54.95 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
21.32 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
111 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
44.61 years
male:
43.01 years
female:
46.26 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.35 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Nigerien(s)
adjective:
Nigerien
Ethnic divisions:
Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%,
Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 4,000 French expatriates
Religions:
Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
Languages:
French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
28%
male:
40%
female:
17%
Labor force:
2.5 million wage earners (1982)
by occupation:
agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
note:
51% of population of working age (1985)
@Niger, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Niger
conventional short form:
Niger
local long form:
Republique du Niger
local short form:
Niger
Digraph:
NG
Type:
republic
Capital:
Niamey
Administrative divisions:
7 departments (departements, singular - departement); Agadez, Diffa,
Dosso, Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Zinder
Independence:
3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution:
approved by national referendum 16 December 1992; promulgated January
1993
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Mahamane OUSMANE (since 16 April 1993)
head of government:
Prime Minister Mahamadou ISSOUFOU (since 17 April 1993)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime
minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly:
elected by proportional representation for 5 year terms; elections
last held 14 February 1993 (next election NA 1998); seats - (83 total)
MNSD 29, CDS 22, PNDS 13, ANDP-Z 11, UPDP 2, PPN/RDA 2, UDFP 2, PSDN
1, UDPS 1
Judicial branch:
State Court (Cour d'Etat), Court of Appeal (Cour d'Apel)
Political parties and leaders:
National Movement of the Development Society (MNSD-NASSARA), Kada
LABO, General Secretary; Democratic and Social Convention - Rahama
(CDS- Rahama), Mahamane OUSMANE; Nigerien Party for Democracy and
Socialism (PNDS), Mahamadou ISSOUFOU; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy
and Progress - Zamanlahia (ANDP-Z), Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE; Union
of Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives (UPDP), Andre SALIFOU; Niger
Progressive Party - African Democratic Rally (PPN-RDA), Harou KOUKA;
Niger Social Democrat Party (PADN), Malam Adji WAZIRI; Union for
Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Akoli DAOUEL
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Adamou SEYDOU
chancery:
2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 483-4224 through 4227
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador John DAVISON
embassy:
Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address:
B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone:
[227] 72-26-61 through 64
FAX:
[227] 73-31-67
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a
small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band;
similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered
in the white band
@Niger, Economy
Overview:
Niger's economy is centered on subsistence agriculture, animal
husbandry, and re-export trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its
major export throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Uranium revenues dropped
by almost 50% between 1983 and 1990. Terms of trade with Nigeria,
Niger's largest regional trade partner, have improved dramatically
since the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994; this
devaluation boosted exports of livestock, peas, onions, and the
products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on
bilateral and multilateral aid for operating expenses and public
investment, and is strongly induced to adhere to structural adjustment
programs designed by the IMF and the World Bank.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $5.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
1.9% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$650 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$193 million
expenditures:
$355 million, including capital expenditures of $106 million (1991
est.)
Exports:
$294 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
uranium ore 60%, livestock products 20%, cowpeas, onions
partners:
France 77%, Nigeria 8%, Cote d'Ivoire, Italy
Imports:
$346 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, electronic
equipment, cereals, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, chemical
products, foodstuffs
partners:
Germany 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 11%, France 5%, Italy 4%, Nigeria 2%
External debt:
$1.2 billion (December 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -2.7% (1991 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
105,000 kW
production:
230 million kWh
consumption per capita:
30 kWh (1991)
Industries:
cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses,
and a few other small light industries; uranium mining began in 1971
Agriculture:
accounts for roughly 40% of GDP and 90% of labor force; cash crops -
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts; food crops - millet, sorghum, cassava, rice;
livestock - cattle, sheep, goats; self-sufficient in food except in
drought years
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $380 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$3.165 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $504 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $61 million
Currency:
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05
(January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26
(1990), 319.01 (1989)
note:
the official rate is pegged to the French franc, and beginning 12
January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc
from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
@Niger, Communications
Highways:
total:
39,970 km
paved:
bituminous 3,170 km
unpaved:
gravel, laterite 10,330 km; earth 3,470 km; tracks 23,000 km
Inland waterways:
Niger River is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin
frontier from mid-December through March
Airports:
total:
30
usable:
28
with permanent-surface runways:
9
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
14
Telecommunications:
small system of wire, radiocommunications, and radio relay links
concentrated in southwestern area; 14,260 telephones; broadcast
stations - 15 AM, 5 FM, 18 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 3 domestic, with 1
planned
@Niger, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, National Police, Republican Guard
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,845,374; fit for military service 994,683; reach
military age (18) annually 91,595 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $27 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989)
@Nigeria, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Benin and
Cameroon
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
923,770 sq km
land area:
910,770 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total 4,047 km, Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger
1,497 km
Coastline:
853 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
30 nm
International disputes:
demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of
which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and
awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; boundary
commission, created with Cameroon to discuss unresolved land and
maritime boundaries, has not yet convened, but a commission was formed
January 1994 to study a flare-up of the dispute
Climate:
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain:
southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in
southeast, plains in north
Natural resources:
petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc,
natural gas
Land use:
arable land:
31%
permanent crops:
3%
meadows and pastures:
23%
forest and woodland:
15%
other:
28%
Irrigated land:
8,650 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
soil degradation; rapid deforestation; desertification; recent
droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities
natural hazards:
periodic droughts
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
Change
@Nigeria, People
Population:
98,091,097 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.15% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
43.52 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
12.43 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
75 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
55.33 years
male:
54.11 years
female:
56.59 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.37 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Nigerian(s)
adjective:
Nigerian
Ethnic divisions:
north:
Hausa and Fulani
southwest:
Yoruba
southeast:
Ibos
non-Africans 27,000
note:
Hausa and Fulani, Yoruba, and Ibos together make up 65% of population
Religions:
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages:
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
51%
male:
62%
female:
40%
Labor force:
42.844 million
by occupation:
agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 15%
note:
49% of population of working age (1985)
@Nigeria, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form:
Nigeria
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
@Nigeria, Economy