The Babangida transition programme to civil rule officially started in

Analyze the question: You're asked for the year the Babangida transition programme to civil rule officially started.

Concept and background:

• General Ibrahim Babangida took power in August 1985 after a palace coup that removed General Muhammadu Buhari.
• In January 1986 he set up the Political Bureau (headed by Dr. Samuel Cookey) to propose a political programme.
• On 1 July 1986 he announced a transition timetable, originally ending in 1990 and later extended to 1992 and then 1993.
• The transition programme was officially launched in 1987, when the structures of the programme began. The Directorate of Social Mobilisation (MAMSER) was created in 1987, and the National Electoral Commission (NEC) was set up in 1987. The first step in the programme, local government elections on a non-party basis, took place in December 1987.

Working through the options:

• B. 1983: Buhari took power in December 1983 after the coup against Shagari's civilian government. Not this one.
• C. 1985: Babangida took power this year, but the programme had not yet begun.
• D. 1992: The programme was supposed to end around then (the handover date was moved to 1992, and then 1993). It did not start then.
• A. 1987: This is when the programme was officially put into operation, with MAMSER, NEC and the first local government elections.

One caution: some sources date the announcement to 1986 (the Political Bureau report and the timetable). That year is not among the options, and the official start of the implementation was 1987, so A fits the question best.

Answer: A. 1987

Tip: Remember the sequence for Babangida: 1985 coup, 1986 Political Bureau, 1987 programme starts, 1993 June 12 election annulled and the programme collapses. For "started," think 1987 unless 1986 is offered, in which case read the wording carefully (announced vs. officially started).