Nigeria’s new president began his tenure on Tuesday, following an inaugural ceremony in Abuja in which he vowed to step up security efforts and address jobs and the economy.
“My primary foreign policy objective must be the peace and stability of the West African subregion and the African continent,” said President Bola Tinubu. He promised to work with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union, and other international partners to “end extant conflicts and to resolve new ones.”
Policy reforms, broader access to electricity, and an improved climate for investment will take priority as economic measures. “My administration must create meaningful opportunities for our youth,” he added. “We shall honor our campaign commitment of one million new jobs in the digital economy.”
Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) party candidate, was elected in February with 37% of the votes cast. His victory was challenged by Atiku Abubakar of the popular Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party’s Peter Obi and other opposition candidates, but he secured the support of outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari, headed home to Katsina state after eight years as president, thanked his supporters and wished Tinubu well in a farewell speech delivered Monday.
“To ensure that our democracy remains resilient and our elected representatives remain accountable to the people, I am leaving behind an electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible, elections are fair and transparent and the influence of money in politics reduced to the barest minimum,” Buhari said. “And Nigerians can elect leaders of their choice.”
Image: President Bola Tinubu