The President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, waves at guests from a motorcade during his inauguration ceremony on May 29, 2023 at Eagle Square in Abuja, Nigeria. Nigeria's new leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was sworn in on Tuesday as the 16th president of the most populous African nation, following a ceremony in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
Tinubu, a former governor of the southwestern state of Lagos, highlighted his vision and plans for Nigeria's progress, stressing the need for economic growth and the fight against terrorism and criminality.
We shall work for economic growth of a gross domestic product not less than 6 percent, Mr Tinubu said, promising to work tirelessly to improve the lives of Nigerians and build a prosperous nation that would serve as a beacon of hope in Africa.
He also announced that the fuel subsidy, which has been a significant burden on government revenue, has ended when the 2023 budget did not provide such a subsidy.
The fuel subsidy is gone, the new president said, adding his government will instead channel funds into infrastructure and other areas to strengthen the economy.
Tinubu has vowed to eradicate terrorism and crime in Nigeria.
Security shall be top of our administration, he said, adding that he will reform security architecture and invest more in security personnel, providing them with better training and better equipment.
Attackers in Nigeria killed 20 people, mostly women and children.
He said he will also end extreme poverty, make food more abundant, ensure inclusion for women and youth and discourage corruption.
The ceremony at Eagle Square, located in the heart of the city, was witnessed by delegations of regional and global leaders and dignitaries.