The official in charge of organizing elections in Nigeria is reported to have said that many of the names appearing on a newly compiled voters list are fictitious.

The Nigerian press quotes the head of the Independent National Election Commission, Ephraim Akpata, as saying that nearly sixty million names are on the list.

But the Commision had previously estimated that the total electorate should not exceed forty million.

The reported comments come a week before local elections are due to get underway -- the first stage of a process due to culminate in a return to civilian rule next year.

When the voters lists were compiled last October, the Election Commission denounced reports of alleged fraud.