Former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika says Muhammadu Buhari left Nigeria’s economy flourishing when he handed power to Bola Tinubu in 2023. Sirika made the claim during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, ahead of events marking the first anniversary of Buhari’s death. He rejected the idea that Buhari’s policies caused the hardship many Nigerians report today.
Sirika insisted that Buhari performed extremely well on the economy, despite acknowledging he is not an economist. He said his years inside the administration gave him direct insight into the country’s condition at the time. He also said the education sector improved alongside the economy during Buhari’s tenure
Asked whether Buhari left enough resources for a smooth handover, Sirika answered that Buhari left behind a country that was flourishing. He declined to weigh in on Tinubu’s current policies, saying it would be unfair for him to criticize decisions made by the sitting government.
Sirika framed both administrations as part of the same political project. He argued that Buhari and Tinubu have both implemented policies rooted in the ideology of the ruling All Progressives Congress. He added that neither leader set out to harm Nigerians, saying their decisions reflected the advice and pressures of their respective periods in office.
Federal debt data tells a different story than the one Sirika described. Domestic debt rose from 8.84 trillion naira in December 2015 to 44.91 trillion naira by June 2023, while external debt climbed from 7.35 billion dollars to 37.2 billion dollars over the same stretch. By the end of Buhari’s term, debt as a share of GDP had nearly doubled, moving from 18 percent to 35 percent.
Debt servicing costs also grew sharply during the period. Annual debt servicing rose from 1.06 trillion naira in 2015 to 5.24 trillion naira by 2022, pushing the debt service to revenue ratio from 29 percent to 96 percent. Analysts at Budgit describe the eight years as marked by high debt, high inflation and low growth.
Inflation moved in the same direction. Headline inflation surged through Buhari’s two terms and closed at 22.03 percent in March 2023. The naira lost significant value against the dollar over the same window. The exchange rate jumped 234 percent, moving from 197 naira to 461.06 naira per dollar by 2023.
Growth figures show a mixed record rather than the strong performance Sirika described. GDP growth averaged only 1.40 percent through most of Buhari’s tenure, a figure analysts call the weakest since Nigeria’s return to democracy. External reserves fluctuated as well. Reserves peaked near 40 billion dollars under Buhari before closing at 35.15 billion dollars in May 2023.
Poverty numbers moved only slightly despite years of government spending. The poverty rate stood at 40.1 percent when Buhari took office and had fallen only to 38.9 percent by the time he left, even as Nigeria’s population grew. By 2022, the World Bank had identified Nigeria as the largest contributor to poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Sirika’s remarks arrive at a sensitive political moment. Buhari died on July 13, 2025, and allies are organizing commemorations to mark one year since his passing. His comments come as economists, civil society groups and opposition figures continue to argue that Buhari’s administration left behind rising debt, inflation and broader economic strain.
The timing also reflects an internal APC effort to protect Buhari’s reputation while distancing the party from the hardship many Nigerians associate with Tinubu’s reforms. Sirika’s refusal to assess Tinubu’s policies suggests the party wants Buhari’s legacy defended without opening comparisons to the present. That balancing act may prove difficult given how closely the two administrations are now linked in public debate.
Not every part of Buhari’s record draws criticism. Sirika’s own ministry saw notable gains during his time in office. As aviation minister from 2019 to 2023, Sirika oversaw the completion of major airport terminals and new cargo facilities, and he is credited with implementing roughly 98 percent of the National Aviation Roadmap.
That record may explain why Sirika speaks with confidence about Buhari’s broader legacy, even as national economic indicators point elsewhere. His sector saw investment and infrastructure growth, while the wider economy absorbed rising debt and inflation. The gap between those two experiences helps explain why his claim has drawn pushback.
For ordinary Nigerians weighing Sirika’s account, the numbers offer a fuller picture than a single interview can. Debt nearly doubled as a share of GDP. Inflation more than doubled. The naira lost most of its value. Growth stayed weak by historical standards.
Whatever legacy Buhari’s allies choose to emphasize this week, the data will remain part of the record Nigerians use to judge both his presidency and the one that followed it.
