President Muhammadu Buhari will leave office and hand over power to Bola Tinubu on May 29 after eight years of leading Nigeria.
His tenure has been marked by many controversies that have divided the nation and sparked debates.
In this report, Newsflash Nigeria looks back at some of the most contentious issues that defined Buhari’s presidency.
Buhari’s presidency has been marked by several policies and incidents that have generated heated debates and reactions among Nigerians and the international community. Here are some of them:
Twitter ban:
Buhari banned Twitter in Nigeria for over six months after the platform deleted his tweet that threatened to deal with secessionists in the Southeast “in the language they understand”.
The ban affected millions of Nigerians who use Twitter for business, communication and information.
It also drew criticism from local and international human rights groups, civil society organisations and foreign governments.
EndSARS- Lekki Toll Gate:
The Lekki Toll gate incident on October 20 was one of the most tragic events in Nigeria’s history.
On that day, soldiers opened fire on peaceful protesters who were demanding an end to police brutality and bad governance.
The exact number of casualties is still unknown, but eyewitnesses and media reports said dozens of people were killed or injured.
The government has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that no one died.
The incident sparked outrage and solidarity across the world and gave birth to a powerful movement that influenced the recent elections.
Invasion of judges’ houses:
In 2016, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) raided the homes of several senior judges in the middle of the night and arrested some of them.
The government said it was a crackdown on corruption in the judiciary, but many Nigerians saw it as an assault on the rule of law and judicial independence.
The invasion also raised questions about the role and accountability of the DSS under Buhari.
Shutdown of border:
In 2019, Buhari ordered the closure of Nigeria’s land borders with its neighbours to curb smuggling and boost local production.
The policy had a mixed impact on the economy and the people.
While it boosted the rice sector and increased government revenue, it also led to inflation, scarcity and hardship for many Nigerians who depend on cross-border trade.
The border closure also strained Nigeria’s relations with its neighbours and violated regional trade agreements.
Invasion of Nnamdi Kanu House:
In 2017, the Nigerian Army launched Operation Python Dance II in the Southeast to quell the agitation for secession by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu.
During the operation, soldiers stormed Kanu’s house in Umuahia and allegedly killed some of his supporters.
Kanu escaped and went into exile until he was rearrested in 2021 and brought back to Nigeria to face trial.
His arrest and detention have worsened the security situation in the Southeast, where IPOB has declared a sit-at-home order every Monday and clashed with security forces.
Nomination of dead people:
In 2017, Buhari made a blunder when he nominated six dead persons for various appointments.
Some of them had died months or years before their names were announced.
The embarrassing mistake exposed the lack of due diligence and coordination in Buhari’s administration.
Shi’a El-Zakzaky:
In 2015, a clash between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) led by Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and soldiers escorting the then Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai resulted in a bloody crackdown that left hundreds of Shiites dead or injured.
El-Zakzaky and his wife were arrested and detained for years despite several court orders for their release.
Their detention sparked protests by their followers, some of which turned violent and deadly. El-Zakzaky was eventually released on bail in 2021 on health grounds.
Invasion of National Assembly by DSS:
In 2018, masked DSS operatives laid siege to the National Assembly complex in Abuja, preventing lawmakers from entering or leaving.
The move was widely seen as an attempt to impeach the then Senate President Bukola Saraki, who had defected from Buhari’s party to the opposition.
The invasion was condemned by Nigerians as an attack on democracy and a coup against the legislature.
It also led to the sack of Lawal Daura, the then Director-General of DSS, by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was acting as president at the time.
Naira scarcity:
In 2023, Nigerians faced acute shortage of naira notes due to a policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to redesign the currency and withdraw old notes from circulation.
The policy backfired as it created panic and confusion among the public and disrupted economic activities.
Many Nigerians suffered losses, banks were vandalised and protests erupted in some parts of the country.
The policy also exposed the poor management and communication skills of the CBN under Buhari.
