The following information was provided during a 26 February 1998 telephone interview with the representative of the Computer Association of Nigeria (COAN) in Illinois who is also the publisher of a Nigeria-based personal computer magazine called Microbyte Monthly. COAN is an umbrella organization of Nigerian computer companies. The publisher travels regularly to Nigeria.

The publisher stated that the mandate of CoVAN is to control the quality of the computer products entering Nigeria, to intercept fraudulent material, to register foreign computer companies doing business in Nigeria, to become partners with multi-national companies for training and recruitment programs in Nigeria. The headquarters is located in Lagos; the president of CoVAN is Mr. Davies Mirilla. CoVAN organizes yearly conferences, one of which was held in 1996 in Lagos. The organization does not have formal links with the government, but the publisher added that individual workers may have contracts with the government. The publisher was unaware of any instances of ill-treatment by the government of members of CoVAN.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Computer Association of Nigeria and publisher of Microbyte Monthly, Napierville, Illinois. 26 February 1998. Telephone interview with representative.