GISTZ:Nigeria's new president draws up tough to-do list

Nigeria's new president was sworn in on Friday in the country's first ever democratic
handover of power. He faces a tough battle to diversify an economy reliant on oil and hampered by terrorism and endemic corruption.

Retired major-general Muhammadu Buhari won the 2015 election as a self-described "converted democrat," taking over from incumbent Goodluck Jonathan. However, it's not the first time he has led the country-he ruled as dictator between 1983 and 1985, after taking power in a coup.

"The common themes raised by all we met focused on the need for good governance, security and an end to systemic corruption," said Kato Mukuru, global head of research at Exotix Partners, in a research note published after the election results.

"President-elect Buhari and Vice President-elect Osinbajo are universally accepted as being the right team to deliver on this, but after being disappointed on many occasions by their leaders, many people were hopeful, rather than expectant."


Buhari's military credentials have increased expectations that he will do better in tackling Boko Haram than his predecessor. The militants have wreaked havoc in the north-east of the country in a six-year killing and kidnapping spree aimed at establishing an Islamic caliphate.

The chaos has deterred some investors from Africa's biggest oil producer, although Nigeria's commercial hub of Lagos is located far away from Boko Haram territory.

The country as a whole is rated at "severe" risk of terrorism and political violence-on a par with Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan-by global risk consultancy Aon.