Restoring Normalcy to Nigeria

The fact that the writer of the opinion-page article ''Nigeria's Dictator Could Sink a Continent,'' March 29, uses a pseudonym is not surprising. His presentation is characterized by incredible inaccuracies and gratuitous use of superlatives in the effort to discredit Gen. Sani Abacha and Nigeria.

General Abacha's assumption of office in November 1993 was at the urging of well-meaning politicians, including the principal actors of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, who felt that a military intervention was required to prevent the nation's disintegration.

On taking over, Abacha and his colleagues immediately restored normalcy and a measure of national reconciliation.

I challenge the writer to name a single Nigerian general or official connected with drug smuggling into the US and to account for the 80 percent of heroin smuggling which, he alleges, is brought by Nigerians.

In fact, at no time did the US government receive greater cooperation from Nigeria in combating drug trafficking than under the present government. The International Narcotic Drug Board has also recently applauded Nigeria's efforts in this sphere.

Trade sanctions would only destabilize Africa's largest market, which receives 20 percent of US imports to sub-Saharan Africa, accounts for 10 percent of US oil imports, hosts more than $3 billion worth of US investment, and supports US foreign-policy objectives.

Zubair Mahmud Kazaure, Washington

Ambassador of Nigeria to the US

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