IV.  POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

Nigeria maintains a federal system of government with 30 states,
the Federal Capital Territory, home of the new capital Abuja, and
nearly 600 local government areas, (LGA's).  On November 17,
1993, the head of the Interim National Government was replaced by
the Defense Minister.  The new Head-of-State abolished the
country's democratic institutions, including local governments,

(elected in December 1990), state governments and assemblies,
(elected in December 1991), the National Assembly, (elected in
July 1992), and the two political parties, (the NRC, or National
Republican Convention and the SDP, or Social Democratic Party),
both of which had been previously established with government
support.  Currently the Nigerian Government is military-dominated
and known as the Provisional Ruling Council, (PRC), which
replaced the Interim National Government, although the Head-of-
State and two other generals are the only military officers in
the military appointed cabinet.  State governors have been
replaced by military officers, who are known as "Administrators."
The PRC has pledged to convene a National Constitutional
Conference to determine the means and a timetable for a
transition to civilian rule.  An exact date for the Conference,
originally expected to be held in March 1994, has not yet been
announced.