Former Lagos State Governor, Tinubu, becomes Nigeria’s 16th President

Bola Tinubu became Nigeria's president on Monday during what has so far been a period of unprecedented challenges for Africa's most populous country, leaving some citizens hopeful for a better life and others skeptical as to if his government would perform better than the one he succeeds. Thousands of Nigerians and several heads of government attended the swearing-in ceremony for the 71-year-old Tinubu in the country's capital, Abuja. He succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari to lead a country that by 2050 is forecast to become the third most populous nation in the world, tied with the United States after India and China.

Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos, which is Nigeria's economic hub, has promised to build on Buhari's efforts to deliver democratic dividends to citizens in a country where deadly security crises, widespread poverty and hunger have left many frustrated and angry and with his election still being contested in court by opposition parties and among many young Nigerians, Tinubu has also pledged to reunite the country. In his first comments as president, Tinubu, also from Buhari's party, declared that "hope is back for Nigeria" and said he would work beyond improving the economic and security conditions to unite a deeply divided nation and ensure fairness and justice for aggrieved groups.

At the inauguration venue, neither of the two main opposition candidates challenging Tinubu's election in court was present and many Nigerians tweeted in protest to Tinubu's inauguration. The outcome of the court challenge is due in about three weeks. If the opposition challenges are upheld, it would be the first time a presidential election would be nullified by the court in Nigeria's history.

Tinubu's manifesto of "renewed hope" prioritizes the creation of sufficient jobs and ramping up of local production of goods, investing in agriculture and public infrastructure, providing economic opportunities for the poorest and most vulnerable as well as creating better national security architecture to tackle all forms of insecurity. Tinubu must act quickly and decisively to tackle Nigeria's security crises with the country already in a critical situation. Although he has often talked about assembling the best hands to lead Nigeria, the nation's problem has never been about the quality of public officials but about accountability, said Leena Koni Hoffmann-Atar, associate fellow in the Africa program at the Chatham House think tank.

However, Tinubu's ambitious plans could be threatened in his first 100 days in office by a mountain of challenges, from insecurity to a fiscal crisis, poverty and deepening public discontent with the state, said Mucahid Durmaz, senior West Africa analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. Coming from the ruling All Progressives Congress, which has been dogged with allegations of corruption, Tinubu's emergence as Nigeria's president-elect drew concerns about how transparent he would be in office. As his first declaration in office the new President has announced the impending removal of Petroleum subsidy from the economic agenda to the bewilderment of all Nigerians.

Bola Tinubu Sworn in as Nigeria’s New President

Former Lagos State Governor, Tinubu becomes Nigeria’s 16th President

Bola Tinubu became Nigeria's president on Monday during what has so far been a period of unprecedented challenges for Africa's most populous country, leaving some citizens hopeful for a better life and others skeptical as to if his government would perform better than the one he succeeds. Thousands of Nigerians and several heads of government attended the swearing-in ceremony for the 71-year-old Tinubu in the country's capital, Abuja. He succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari to lead a country that by 2050 is forecast to become the third most populous nation in the world, tied with the United States after India and China.

Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos, which is Nigeria's economic hub, has promised to build on Buhari's efforts to deliver democratic dividends to citizens in a country where deadly security crises, widespread poverty and hunger have left many frustrated and angry and with his election still being contested in court by opposition parties and among many young Nigerians, Tinubu has also pledged to reunite the country. In his first comments as president, Tinubu, also from Buhari's party, declared that "hope is back for Nigeria" and said he would work beyond improving the economic and security conditions to unite a deeply divided nation and ensure fairness and justice for aggrieved groups.

At the inauguration venue, neither of the two main opposition candidates challenging Tinubu's election in court was present and many Nigerians tweeted in protest to Tinubu's inauguration. The outcome of the court challenge is due in about three weeks. If the opposition challenges are upheld, it would be the first time a presidential election would be nullified by the court in Nigeria's history.

Tinubu's manifesto of "renewed hope" prioritizes the creation of sufficient jobs and ramping up of local production of goods, investing in agriculture and public infrastructure, providing economic opportunities for the poorest and most vulnerable as well as creating better national security architecture to tackle all forms of insecurity. Tinubu must act quickly and decisively to tackle Nigeria's security crises with the country already in a critical situation. Although he has often talked about assembling the best hands to lead Nigeria, the nation's problem has never been about the quality of public officials but about accountability, said Leena Koni Hoffmann-Atar, associate fellow in the Africa program at the Chatham House think tank.

However, Tinubu's ambitious plans could be threatened in his first 100 days in office by a mountain of challenges, from insecurity to a fiscal crisis, poverty and deepening public discontent with the state, said Mucahid Durmaz, senior West Africa analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. Coming from the ruling All Progressives Congress, which has been dogged with allegations of corruption, Tinubu's emergence as Nigeria's president-elect drew concerns about how transparent he would be in office. As his first declaration in office the new President has announced the impending removal of Petroleum subsidy from the economic agenda to the bewilderment of all Nigerians.