The military government of Nigeria has unveiled its 1999 budget, drawn up at at a time when the economy of Africa's most populous country is facing growing difficulties.

The Nigerian leader, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, acknowledged that the global fall in oil prices had meant a drastic fall in expected revenues.

General Abubakar said some hard and painful decisions would have to be taken.

He argued that these were needed so that the incoming civilian administration - due to to take power in May - should not be encumbered with unsustainable policies.