Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has defended the administrations of former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu, saying Buhari left Nigeria in a strong economic and social position while Tinubu is implementing policies consistent with the agenda of the All Progressives Congress.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Sirika dismissed suggestions that the Buhari administration was responsible for Nigeria’s current economic challenges, insisting that the former president recorded significant achievements during his tenure.

According to him, although he is not an economist, his experience in government and familiarity with developments in the country convinced him that Nigeria’s economy and social conditions were in a good state at the end of Buhari’s administration.

When asked whether Buhari handed over a stable country with sufficient resources for his successor, Sirika replied in the affirmative, maintaining that the former president left behind a flourishing nation.

Commenting on the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, Sirika declined to criticise the government, arguing that both Buhari’s and Tinubu’s decisions are rooted in the policy direction of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He said the policies being implemented by President Tinubu are a continuation of the party’s ideological framework rather than isolated decisions by the current administration.

Sirika also rejected the suggestion that the Tinubu government was deliberately pursuing policies that would negatively affect Nigerians.

According to him, the administration is making decisions based on the prevailing economic realities and expert advice, with the intention of advancing the country’s long-term interests.