President Bola Tinubu says he contested the presidential election to “help” put Nigeria on track, as the country lacks proper management and leadership despite being endowed with human and natural resources.

Mr Tinubu, while speaking with Nigerians in India, on Thursday dismissed past leaders, including his predecessor and party man, Muhammadu Buhari, as poor managers and leaders.

“We are not poor in knowledge. We are not poor in human resources,” Mr Tinubu said. “We are only poor in management and leadership, and that is why I ran for president, to help all of us mould the soul of our country in the right direction.” 

Mr Tinubu, who visited India for the G20 summit, added, “We are here to present a new future to you. A future of a country that is so rich, endowed, and highly populated. Very dynamic and unique in its culture, tradition, and ethnicity. That is what will make our prosperity possible if only we can make use of our diversity for prosperity.” 

On May 29, Mr Tinubu took over leadership of Nigeria from Mr Buhari, whose regime was criticised for plunging the country into massive debt and economic conundrum. 

The president has since boasted of his years of experience in the political realm and promised to replicate his achievements as the governor of Lagos State in his administration.

Upon his swearing-in as the president, Mr Tinubu declared that “Subsidy is gone”, a development that saw fuel prices skyrocket from N195 to N540 and later 617.

He had also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to float the naira, allowing banks to determine exchange rates to the dollar and other foreign currencies. 

Also, Mr Tinubu had signed the student loan law with stringent conditions, allowing eligible students in higher institutions access loans for their education.

Analysts have so far applauded the policies of Mr Tinubu’s less than four-month-old government. 

Former World Bank president David Malpass lauded Mr Tinubu for ending the fuel subsidy regime and scrapping the dual exchange rate. He expressed confidence that the move would help reduce corruption in Nigeria.

Akinwumi Adesina of the African Development Bank also described Tinubu-led economic policies as “bold and sound.”

However, Nigerians are left suffering the impact of fuel subsidy removal, with arguments that measures to cushion its effects should have been implemented before the move.