PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI: A LEGACY IN NUMBERS (2015–2023)

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI: A LEGACY IN NUMBERS (2015–2023)

As Nigeria marks the end of an era with the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, his eight-year tenure (2015–2023) remains a defining period in the nation’s democratic journey. A man often described as austere, disciplined, and dogged in his leadership approach, Buhari’s administration has left behind a legacy that can be measured in policies, reforms, and most notably, in numbers. This report offers a comprehensive look into the numerical footprint of his administration across critical sectors.

ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE

Upon assuming office in May 2015, President Buhari inherited an economy on the brink of crisis, exacerbated by falling oil prices. His administration faced two recessions in 2016 and 2020 but managed to bring the economy back on track by 2023 with a GDP growth rate of 3.1%.

However, inflation rose sharply, reaching 22.41% by May 2023. The exchange rate also depreciated significantly, moving from ₦197/$ in 2015 to approximately ₦750/$ on the parallel market in 2023.

Public debt became a major concern, ballooning from ₦12.1 trillion in 2015 to about ₦77 trillion by 2023, including external borrowings which rose from $10.3 billion to $41.69 billion within the same period.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

One of the hallmarks of the Buhari administration was its aggressive push for infrastructure development. The government completed several high-impact projects:

Second Niger Bridge: Completed and commissioned after decades of promises by previous governments.

Railways: Completion of the 156 km Lagos-Ibadan rail line and the successful operation of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line.

Road Projects: Over 13,000 kilometers of roads were either constructed or rehabilitated across the country.

Airports: Major upgrades were carried out on the international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt.

SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMMES

In an effort to reduce poverty and empower citizens, Buhari launched the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP), the largest of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa:

N-Power: Engaged over 500,000 unemployed Nigerian youth.

Home-Grown School Feeding Programme: Provided daily meals to 9.9 million pupils across 35 states.

TraderMoni and MarketMoni: Disbursed micro-loans to over 2 million traders and artisans, aiming to support small-scale businesses at the grassroots.

SECURITY AND DEFENCE

Security remained one of the most contentious areas of the Buhari presidency. While the territorial control of Boko Haram was largely dismantled with no local government area under its control by 2023 the rise in banditry, kidnapping, and farmer-herder clashes in the North-West and North-Central regions cast a shadow over the government’s efforts.

Defense Spending: Averaged over ₦1 trillion annually.

Personnel Recruitment: Over 30,000 new personnel were recruited into the military and police forces to boost manpower.

Despite these efforts, insecurity remained a persistent challenge throughout his tenure.

ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE

Buhari’s presidency was anchored on a strong anti-corruption stance. His administration introduced key reforms, although the overall impact remains debated:

Assets Recovered: Over ₦1 trillion was recovered through EFCC and ICPC operations.

Whistleblower Policy: Led to the discovery of billions of naira in hidden public and private accounts.

High Profile Convictions: Several former governors, ministers, and agency heads were convicted for corruption.

AGRICULTURE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY

The Buhari government prioritized agriculture as a path to economic diversification:

Anchor Borrowers Programme: Supported more than 4.8 million farmers nationwide.

Rice Production: Grew from 3.7 million metric tons in 2015 to over 5 million metric tons by 2022.

While the government claimed self-sufficiency in rice production, Nigeria still had to rely on imports to meet full demand.

OIL AND GAS REFORMS

Oil remained Nigeria’s economic lifeline throughout Buhari’s rule:

Petrol Subsidy: Over ₦11 trillion spent on subsidies from 2015 to 2023.

Refinery Projects: Commissioned the Dangote Refinery in 2023, expected to reduce fuel imports.

Petrol Price Hike: Rose from ₦87/litre in 2015 to ₦537/litre in 2023 after the subsidy removal under his successor.

ELECTORAL AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS

Buhari’s administration was marked by significant democratic milestones:

Electoral Act 2022: Signed into law, enabling the use of electronic transmission of results a major demand of electoral reform advocates.

Peaceful Transition: Oversaw a relatively peaceful and credible general election in 2023, culminating in the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Freedom of Expression: Despite advances in democratic processes, his administration was criticized for limiting digital freedoms, notably with the ban on Twitter in 2021.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership remains a topic of national debate admired by many for his infrastructural achievements, anti-corruption stance, and discipline, yet criticized by others for economic hardship, rising insecurity, and controversial human rights records.

What remains indisputable is that his 8-year administration shaped the trajectory of modern Nigeria in ways that will be remembered, studied, and debated for years to come in both words and numbers.