The Nigerian military ruler, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, has granted himself the country's highest award, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, in a new year's honours list.

A BBC correspondent in Nigeria said the honours list this year was dominated by military officers.

The former businessman and politician, Moshood Abiola, who died in detention last July, was awarded a third rank honour.

He was presumed to have won the presidential election in 1993 before it was cancelled following military intervention.

General Abubakar is due to present the awards at a ceremony still to be announced.