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: 36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Federal Captial Territory (Abuja)*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Constitution: NA 1999 new constitution adopted
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:
Federal Executive Council
elections:
president is elected by popular vote for no more than two four-year terms; election last held 2003
election results:
Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) elected president; percent of vote - Olusegun OBASANJO 61.8%, Muhamudu Buhari (ANPP) 32.2%.
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 four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:
Senate - last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003); House of Representatives - last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53%, APP 32%, AD 11%; seats by party - PDP 73, APP 30, AD 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 53%, APP 32%, AD 11%; seats by party - PDP 213, ANPP 96, AD 32
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: All Nigeria People's Party or ANPP [Alhaji Yusuf ALI]; Alliance for Democracy or AD [Yusuf MAMMAN]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Barnabas GEMADE]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green