Civilian rule 'will be restored'

NIGERIA'S MILITARY government said yesterday that it planned to stick to its plan to restore civilian rule on 1 October in accordance with the promise of the former military ruler General Sani Abacha.

"The government has resolved to carry on with the policies and programmes of the former government," Air Vice Marshal Isaac Alfa told reporters in Abuja. Alfa, a member of the ruling military council, said he could not yet say for certain whether the 1 August date for presidential elections, set out under Abacha's democracy plan, would be respected.