Why Buhari-Era Appointees Cannot Ignore the Roots of Nigeria’s Economic Crisis

Criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies is legitimate, but it should not erase the fiscal pressures inherited from the Buhari administration. Rising debt, weak foreign exchange reserves, costly fuel subsidies and oil revenues committed in advance had already narrowed Nigeria’s options before 2023. Many former Buhari appointees defended that administration despite worsening inflation, unemployment and insecurity. Some now strongly condemn Tinubu’s government, yet their criticism often overlooks the role Buhari-era decisions played in creating today’s economic constraints. Fuel subsidy removal and other reforms have imposed real hardship on Nigerians. However, the argument that these measures were taken in isolation ignores the unsustainable cost of maintaining the previous system through further borrowing. Nigeria’s economic troubles are cumulative, not the fault of one administration alone. Any fair assessment of Tinubu’s policies should also acknowledge the decisions and conditions inherited from the Buhari years.

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