text: Courtsinthe11northern Nigerian states andwhatwasthepossibility oftheir extension tootherregions. Withreference totheclashes between Muslims and Christians inKadunastateinApril1987,additional information wasrequested on thetreatment ofthedetainees andhowquickly theyhadbeenbrought beforethe relevant military autrorities andonwhether anyaction hadbeentakenagainst the offending members ofthesecurity forces. Theinformation wasalsorequested on thejUdicial inquiry intothedeathsof24convicts during aprisonrioton 6May1987inBeninprison. Withreference tothousands ofprisoners awaiting trial,itwasaskedwhatactionwasbeingtakentoexpedite thosetria2s. The clarification ofthephrase"actsprejudicial topublicorder"inparagraph 20of thereportwasrequested. 426.Further information wassoughtonthereasonforthetemporary banthatthe Government hadplaced onthejournal N~~ on25April1987andontheactions takenbytheGovernment against theNational Association ofNigerian Students, the Nigerian LabourCongress andtheAcademic StaffUnionofUniversities inJuly1988. 427.Havingnotedthatthedualnationality ofanumberofcitizens of Benino-Nigerian origin hadincreased thediffiCUlty ofcombating illegal traffic in narcotics andinimmigration, members wishedtoknowwhether anystepshadbeen takentoresolve thatproblem andalsorequested anexplanation oftheprasence of Camel"OOn troopsinBornustateandoftheborderclashes inthatarea. Members alsowishedtoknowwhether therewereanyrestrictions ofanykindonthe application ofarticle 5(d)(i)and(v)inanyofthestatesofNigeria and,if so,whatreasons couldbegiven; andwhatguarantees therewereforthe participation ofrepresentatives ofallgroupsortribesinthefederal Government. -80-428.Withreference toarticle 6oftheConvention, members notedthatthereport gavenodetails onitsapplications andaskedwhatactionwastakenbythe Government toassurethe"effective protection andremedies" calledforbythat article, andtowhatextentthelegalassistance tomembers oftheindigenous populations, particularly inanycasesofracialdiscrimination, wasprovided by theNigerian AidCouncil. 429.Withregardtoarticle 7oftheConvention, thehopewasexpressed that Nigeria wouldstudytheCommittee's guidelines onthatarticle andthatits following reportwouldprovide aclearpicture ofthesituation inthecountry. 430.Therepresentative oftheStateparty,replying toquestions andcomments from members oftheCommittee, assured themthatalltheirobservations wouldbeduly takenintoaccount bytheGovernment ofNigeria, which,sinceitsaccession to powerin1987,hadbeenuntiring initsefforts topromote humanrights. Itwas notrighttodescribe Nigeria asaStatetornbyreligious tension. Although Muslims andChristians livedsidebyside,therewasalargenumberofanimists in thecountry. Nigeria wasasecular Statewhose21stateshadnotbeenconstituted onthebasisofreli9ious criteria. Inthatarea,thecountry hadmade considerable progress and,inanycase,thetensions thathadariseninthepast had had aneconomic ratherthanareligious cause. Heinformed theCommittee that Nigeria didnotrecognize dualnationality. AsfarastheArmedForcesRuling Council wasconcerned, therewasnoprovision requiring ittobecomposed of Christians orMuslims; everyeffortwasmadetoachieve asequitable a representation aspossible oCthe21statesofthefederation. Thesameprinciple applied totheNational Council ofMinisters. TheArmedForcesRulingCouncil was thesupreme legislative organofthecountry, whiletheNational Council of Ministers wasresponsible forquestions ofpolicy. Onthequ~stion ofdemographic data,measures hadbeentakenwithaviewtoholding anational censusin1991. ThenewConstitution wouldcomeintoforcein1992withthecountry's returnto civilian rule;itwouldreaffirm thefundamental rightsandprinciples proclaimed inarticles 2and4ofthe1979Constitution. Therepresentative alsoprovided someClarification ofthepartsofthereportdealing withreligious freedom. 431.Inconnection withapplication ofarticle 4oftheConvention, the representative saidthatintheNigerian Government's viewarticle 50ofthe Criminal Codeensured theapplication ofarticle 4,sinceinitscontext theword "classes" shouldalsobeunderstood asincluding races. Nevertheless, anamendment tothatarticle wouldshortly bemade. 432.Referring tothequestions relating toarticle 6oftheConvention, the representative saidthatin1986,following theCommittee's recommendation onthe
analysis: The text appears to be a report or statement from the Nigerian government to a human rights committee, addressing various concerns and issues related to human rights, governance, and social tensions in the country. The content focuses on the treatment of detainees, judicial inquiries, restrictions on freedom of expression, and the government's efforts to promote human rights and national unity.