I’m leaving Nigeria in competent hands, says Buhari

As his tenure ends in exactly one week, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Monday, in Lagos, said he is “happy to leave” Nigeria’s economy in competent hands.

He also expressed confidence in President-elect Bola Tinubu who, he said, will strengthen the framework of Nigeria’s public-private partnership policies to accelerate the pace of her economic growth and development.

Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, revealed this in a statement he signed on Monday titled ‘President Buhari inaugurates Dangote Refinery, calls it a game changer for Nigeria’s economy.’

‘‘I am happy to leave our economy in very competent hands. I am confident that my successor, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will sustain the improvement in our economic and business environment,” Buhari said when he inaugurated Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

Speaking at the occasion attended by Heads of State from Ghana, Togo, Niger, Senegal and a representative of the President of Chad, Buhari described the feat as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s economy and a game changer for the downstream petroleum products market in the entire African region.

The President said, ‘‘This mega industry we are commissioning today is a clear example of what can be achieved when entrepreneurs are encouraged and supported and when an enabling environment is created for investments and for businesses to thrive.

‘‘I am confident that my successor, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will sustain the improvement in our economic and business environment and strengthen the framework of our public-private partnership policies to accelerate the pace of our economic growth and development.

‘‘I am happy to leave our economy in very competent hands.”

Buhari acknowledged that Nigeria’s economy has faced significant challenges over the years, including deficits in economic infrastructure, insurgency, and external crises such as the Global Financial Crisis, oil price collapses, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war.

He said ‘‘The consequence of these challenges constitute a severe strain on our economy, limiting Government’s ability to provide basic infrastructure without resorting to huge borrowings.

‘‘Our Government, therefore, took the decision to focus attention on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and fill the enormous gap in investments not only in infrastructure but also in all critical sectors.”