Nigeria economic blueprint released

A Nigerian think-tank set up personally by the military leader General Sani Abacha to prepare a plan for the country's economic and political future has reached some frank conclusions.

The group, known as Vision Twenty-Ten, puts much of the blame for Nigeria's economic decline on corruption and continued military government.

It also points to the country's over-reliance on the oil sector.

The report says a big programme of privatisation and diversification will make it possible for the economy to catch up with the successful Asian economies.The BBC Lagos correspondent says many remain sceptical about the report, seeing it as part of efforts to build up the image of General Abacha as a visionary in the run-up to elections planned for next year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service