In a notable endorsement, the immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has praised the performance of his successor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, barely a year into his tenure. Buhari commended Tinubu’s efforts, stating that the former Governor of Lagos State has performed admirably since assuming office nine months ago.
The acknowledgment came during a meeting with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Daura, Katsina state, over the weekend.
Despite facing widespread criticism over economic policies such as the removal of fuel subsidies and unification of exchange rate windows, President Tinubu received praise from Buhari for his handling of Nigeria’s complex governance landscape. Buhari acknowledged the challenges inherent in governing Nigeria, emphasizing that the country presents significant obstacles to leaders.
“I thank you very much for coming. I very much appreciate it. I thought Tinubu has done very well. Nigeria is so complex. Really, there isn’t much anybody can do,” remarked the former president.
Adeniyi, in turn, expressed gratitude for Buhari’s unwavering support of the NCS Act 2023, which grants expanded authority to the Customs Service, aiming to enhance revenue generation and trade facilitation, thereby contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth.
During the visit, Adeniyi also highlighted President Tinubu’s directive to return seized trucks carrying food items at the border to traders, with the expectation that they would reintroduce these goods into the Nigerian markets, aligning with efforts to alleviate food shortages.
This isn’t the first instance where Buhari has acknowledged the complexities of governing Nigeria. In a previous interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in November 2023, Buhari emphasized the challenges of leading a nation where citizens are vigilant about their rights and demand accountability from their leaders.
The commendation from the former president underscores the recognition of President Tinubu’s leadership amidst the daunting economic landscape and ongoing efforts to navigate Nigeria’s multifaceted governance challenges.
