According to a recent analysis by the BBC, just one week before President Muhammadu Buhari’s departure from office, it is evident that his legacy will include a significant increase in kidnapping cases and a substantial growth in national debt. As Nigerians bid farewell to their President, they find themselves in a state of heightened insecurity, economic hardship, and a burden of debt that has escalated since Buhari assumed office in 2015.
Following a momentous election that resulted in the defeat of the underperforming incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, the former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari, assumed the presidency with a wave of optimism and the belief that change was within reach. Supported by a formidable coalition and renowned for his tough, no-nonsense approach as a soldier, he was expected to be a decisive leader capable of achieving tangible results.
Having previously held power during a brief stint in the 1980s, Buhari’s return to office was fueled by promises to combat the rampant Islamist insurgency in the North-East and address the pervasive issue of corruption that plagued the nation. He represents the last of a generation of military officers trained in Britain who ascended to positions of governance in the country.
However, after serving two consecutive four-year terms, the 80-year-old leader’s tenure has left many feeling disillusioned and unsatisfied with the outcomes achieved.
As President Muhammadu Buhari approaches the end of his term, concerns over his legacy loom large. An analysis by the BBC reveals that Buhari’s tenure will be remembered for a surge in kidnapping incidents and a mounting national debt. The Nigerian populace finds themselves in a state of heightened insecurity, increased poverty, and a greater burden of debt compared to when Buhari assumed office in 2015.
Buhari’s rise to power followed a momentous election that saw the defeat of the underperforming incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan. Backed by a powerful coalition and renowned for his no-nonsense approach as a former military ruler, Buhari carried the promise of effecting meaningful change.
Having previously held office briefly in the 1980s, Buhari’s return was fueled by pledges to quell the rampant Islamist insurgency in the North-East and combat widespread corruption. He represents the last of a generation of British-trained military leaders who governed the country.
However, after serving two consecutive four-year terms, the 80-year-old leader’s tenure has left many disappointed. While progress has been made in countering Boko Haram and other extremist groups in the North-East, aided by improved military resources from the United States, the emergence of violent factions in other regions has offset these gains. Clashes between farmers and Fulani cattle herders, which had simmered for years, escalated into deadly armed confrontations with ethnic undertones. The government’s inability to resolve the grazing and land use issues aggravated the conflict, with accusations of bias directed at President Buhari, himself a Fulani from northern Nigeria.
Furthermore, armed groups arising from the farmer-herder crisis have transformed into motorcycle-riding bandits, wreaking havoc on communities in the North-West and central states. This has led to the alarming growth of a nationwide kidnap-for-ransom industry, perpetuating violence and instability.
Despite some infrastructure improvements through Chinese loans, including the upgrading of roads and railways, the completion of a crucial bridge, and the enactment of significant electoral and oil-sector laws, the legacy of kidnapping, inflation, and debt has cast a shadow over President Buhari’s tenure.
As President Muhammadu Buhari’s term comes to an end, the legacy he leaves behind is one marred by kidnapping, inflation, and mounting debt. This assessment, provided by the BBC in their analysis, highlights the concerning state of affairs under Buhari’s leadership.
When Buhari steps down next week, Nigerians will find themselves less secure, poorer, and burdened with more debt compared to when he took office in 2015. This disappointing outcome stands in contrast to the optimism that surrounded his election victory, which saw him triumph over the underperforming incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan.
Buhari, a former military ruler, enjoyed strong support from a powerful coalition and was renowned for his reputation as a decisive soldier capable of getting things done. His return to power was driven by promises to combat the rampant Islamist insurgency in the North-East and address widespread corruption. As the last of a generation of British-trained military leaders to govern the country, expectations were high.
While there have been some gains in tackling Boko Haram and other extremist groups in the North-East, supported by improved military resources from the United States, attacks on communities and military installations persist. Nevertheless, this represents an improvement from the period when these groups operated freely and controlled significant portions of Nigerian territory.
Buhari utilized Chinese loans to upgrade deteriorating road and rail infrastructure, construct a new port in Lagos, complete a crucial bridge in the South-East, and implement essential electoral and oil-sector reforms. Upon assuming office, Buhari expressed confidence in the ability to address the country’s problems.
However, any progress made against Islamist militants in the North-East has been undermined by the emergence of equally violent groups in other regions during his tenure. Long-standing clashes between farmers and Fulani cattle herders escalated into deadly armed confrontations, fuelled by a lack of solutions for grazing issues. Buhari, a Fulani himself from northern Nigeria, faced accusations of bias in the conflict, and his proposal of grazing reserves for the herders was rejected by influential southern state governors who viewed it as a land-grabbing tactic.
Some armed groups that emerged from the farmer-herder crisis have transformed into violent motorcycle-riding bandits, targeting communities in the North-West and central states. These groups have contributed to the expansion of a lucrative kidnap-for-ransom industry that now extends throughout the country.
Under Buhari’s watch, the kidnapping crisis intensified, surpassing previous levels of violence. For instance, between December 2020 and September 2021, thousands of school children were abducted, surpassing the global attention garnered by the 2014 abduction of 270 girls in Chibok, which played a pivotal role in Buhari’s victory over Jonathan.
Many Nigerians feel let down, disillusioned by Buhari’s inability to effectively address the country’s security challenges. Musa Ahmadu, a farmer from Buhari’s home state of Katsina who now resides in Kano due to armed group activities, expressed disappointment in the former military ruler’s response to Nigeria’s security challenges.
Additionally, Buhari has faced criticism for his handling of the situation surrounding separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, who heads the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) and advocates for secession in the South-east. The government has proscribed the group, and Kanu, known for his charismatic persona and sensationalist approach, disseminated his message through an internet radio station.
As President Buhari’s tenure draws to a close, the legacies of kidnapping, inflation, and debt overshadow his leadership, leaving many with a sense of disappointment and discontent.
Ipob, which had largely gone unnoticed by many Nigerians, gained significant attention following the arrest of its leader, Mr Kanu, on charges of treason by the Buhari government in 2015. The situation escalated further when a state-sanctioned attack was launched on his residence, triggering an armed conflict that has since spiraled out of control, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives.
After managing to escape in 2017, Mr Kanu was later abducted under unclear circumstances while abroad and subsequently returned to Nigeria in 2021 to face trial. Despite a judge ordering his release due to the illegal nature of his return, authorities continue to hold him in custody.
These ongoing security challenges have led many to question Mr Buhari’s competence in handling a sector that was expected to be within his area of expertise.
Retired Colonel Hassan Stan-Labi, a security analyst, expressed his astonishment at the level of embarrassment President Buhari has brought upon his constituency, the military, despite the promises he made. He raised the question of how someone could fail in their area of expertise.
While countrywide insecurity has been a prominent issue under Mr Buhari’s leadership, the situation in the oil-rich Niger Delta has remained relatively muted. However, this apparent peace has coincided with a significant rise in large-scale oil theft, with different groups in the region engaging in crude oil pilferage while the government is accused of turning a blind eye. Consequently, Nigeria’s oil production plummeted to its lowest level in 30 years in 2022.
The decline in oil production can be partly attributed to the theft of crude oil.
In a startling revelation last October, the discovery of a kilometers-long pipeline dedicated to oil theft raised concerns and was deemed “nearly impossible” without some form of assistance from authorities. In one particular area, thieves constructed their own 4-kilometer pipeline through heavily guarded waterways, leading directly to the Atlantic Ocean. There, barges and vessels openly loaded the stolen oil from a visible seven-meter rig, visible for miles in the open waters.
The occurrence of such large-scale theft directly under the watch of President Buhari, who also served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister, undermined his claims of combating corruption, as pointed out by Salaudeen Hashim from the anti-corruption NGO Cleen Foundation, in an interview with the BBC.
Mr. Buhari’s integrity was called into question due to his frequent medical trips to the UK, despite substantial expenses incurred in refurbishing a clinic in the presidential villa.
This lack of transparency drained taxpayer funds and facilitated illicit financial flows and other corrupt practices, which contradicted the administration’s anti-corruption stance, according to Auwal Rafsanjani, the head of Transparency International in Nigeria.
Rafsanjani rated the administration a mere four out of ten in its efforts to combat corruption. He criticized Mr. Buhari for appointing individuals with ongoing corruption cases to his cabinet and his wife’s extended stays in expensive Dubai residences, which violated best practices for an administration claiming to fight corruption and mismanagement.
As Mr. Buhari exits office, his handling of the Nigerian economy will be remembered for the ill-fated attempt earlier this year to redesign the local currency.
What should have been a routine exercise turned into chaos due to a scarcity of the new currency notes, which have now become almost non-existent. This scarcity has caused immense hardships for millions of Nigerians who relied on cash for their basic needs.
One university graduate in Abuja, who used to earn a living by supplying banknotes to customers before the cash crisis, expressed her frustration, stating that her small business was destroyed by the situation. This anger reflects a common issue in Nigeria – the lack of employment opportunities for educated young people.
Presently, one in three Nigerians seeking employment cannot find a job, whereas prior to Mr. Buhari’s tenure, this figure was less than one in ten. The government has attributed this rise to a sharp decline in oil prices during its early days, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.
However, some of the government’s policies, such as currency restrictions and the closure of land borders to boost local production, have contributed to record levels of inflation, causing millions to slide into poverty and depleting Nigeria’s once flourishing middle class.
With the end of his term in sight, Mr. Buhari urgently appealed to lawmakers to approve an $800 million loan from the World Bank. Nigeria’s public debt is projected to exceed $150 billion this year, compared to just over $60 billion when he assumed office.
Mr. Buhari’s integrity was called into question due to his frequent medical trips to the UK, despite substantial expenses incurred in refurbishing a clinic in the presidential villa.
This lack of transparency drained taxpayer funds and facilitated illicit financial flows and other corrupt practices, which contradicted the administration’s anti-corruption stance, according to Auwal Rafsanjani, the head of Transparency International in Nigeria.
Rafsanjani rated the administration a mere four out of ten in its efforts to combat corruption. He criticized Mr. Buhari for appointing individuals with ongoing corruption cases to his cabinet and his wife’s extended stays in expensive Dubai residences, which violated best practices for an administration claiming to fight corruption and mismanagement.
As Mr. Buhari exits office, his handling of the Nigerian economy will be remembered for the ill-fated attempt earlier this year to redesign the local currency.
What should have been a routine exercise turned into chaos due to a scarcity of the new currency notes, which have now become almost non-existent. This scarcity has caused immense hardships for millions of Nigerians who relied on cash for their basic needs.
One university graduate in Abuja, who used to earn a living by supplying banknotes to customers before the cash crisis, expressed her frustration, stating that her small business was destroyed by the situation. This anger reflects a common issue in Nigeria – the lack of employment opportunities for educated young people.
Presently, one in three Nigerians seeking employment cannot find a job, whereas prior to Mr. Buhari’s tenure, this figure was less than one in ten. The government has attributed this rise to a sharp decline in oil prices during its early days, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.
However, some of the government’s policies, such as currency restrictions and the closure of land borders to boost local production, have contributed to record levels of inflation, causing millions to slide into poverty and depleting Nigeria’s once flourishing middle class.
With the end of his term in sight, Mr. Buhari urgently appealed to lawmakers to approve an $800 million loan from the World Bank. Nigeria’s public debt is projected to exceed $150 billion this year, compared to just over $60 billion when he assumed office.
Mr. Buhari’s integrity was called into question due to his frequent medical trips to the UK, despite substantial expenses incurred in refurbishing a clinic in the presidential villa.
This lack of transparency drained taxpayer funds and facilitated illicit financial flows and other corrupt practices, which contradicted the administration’s anti-corruption stance, according to Auwal Rafsanjani, the head of Transparency International in Nigeria.
Rafsanjani rated the administration a mere four out of ten in its efforts to combat corruption. He criticized Mr. Buhari for appointing individuals with ongoing corruption cases to his cabinet and his wife’s extended stays in expensive Dubai residences, which violated best practices for an administration claiming to fight corruption and mismanagement.
As Mr. Buhari exits office, his handling of the Nigerian economy will be remembered for the ill-fated attempt earlier this year to redesign the local currency.
What should have been a routine exercise turned into chaos due to a scarcity of the new currency notes, which have now become almost non-existent. This scarcity has caused immense hardships for millions of Nigerians who relied on cash for their basic needs.
One university graduate in Abuja, who used to earn a living by supplying banknotes to customers before the cash crisis, expressed her frustration, stating that her small business was destroyed by the situation. This anger reflects a common issue in Nigeria – the lack of employment opportunities for educated young people.
Presently, one in three Nigerians seeking employment cannot find a job, whereas prior to Mr. Buhari’s tenure, this figure was less than one in ten. The government has attributed this rise to a sharp decline in oil prices during its early days, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.
However, some of the government’s policies, such as currency restrictions and the closure of land borders to boost local production, have contributed to record levels of inflation, causing millions to slide into poverty and depleting Nigeria’s once flourishing middle class.
With the end of his term in sight, Mr. Buhari urgently appealed to lawmakers to approve an $800 million loan from the World Bank. Nigeria’s public debt is projected to exceed $150 billion this year, compared to just over $60 billion when he assumed office.
The administration’s extensive borrowing has raised concerns from the World Bank, as Africa’s largest economy is utilizing 96% of its revenue to repay debts.
However, the government defends the substantial debt, arguing that it falls within acceptable limits. They point to cash payments made to impoverished individuals as a rationale for some of the loans, suggesting that these welfare interventions reflect the president’s compassionate nature. Last week, presidential spokesman Femi Adesina wrote that these interventions offer a glimpse into the president’s benevolent character, which some people have failed to recognize, analyze, and understand.
While many within the administration maintain that they have had a successful eight-year tenure, both the president and his wife have expressed regret for not fulfilling their promises. Mr. Buhari, however, maintains that he has given his best effort.
When questioned about his legacy last year, he responded by urging Nigerians to evaluate the state of affairs when he assumed office and compare it to the present. The truth is that Nigerians were safer, financially more stable, and less burdened by debt prior to Mr. Buhari’s leadership, and many will remember him for presiding over one of the most challenging periods they have ever experienced.
