Buhari defends record as Nigerians endure hardship, insecurity

Nigeria’s outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari said his successor will inherit a far more resilient economy thanks to investments in infrastructure and policies that have bolstered local production.

Under his watch, the government has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen state funds, built new transport links and beaten back militant group Boko Haram, Buhari said in written responses to Bloomberg News questions. With Russia’s war on Ukraine disrupting global supply chains, the government’s support for its farmers and manufacturers has been vindicated, he said.

“We leave Nigeria in a far better place than we found it,” said Buhari, 80, who is due to step down after February elections.

The former army general’s glowing self-assessment contrasts starkly with that of critics, who point to a struggling economy, spiralling state debt and rampant unemployment. Gross domestic product has contracted in two of the past seven years and is now about 10%