Nigeria: Muhammadu Buhari to hold low-key presidential inauguration ceremony to save cost

Nigeria is set to hold a low-key presidential inauguration ceremony on May 29 'for the purpose of saving cost,' according to the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.

Lai Mohammed told a press conference in Nigeria's capital, Abuja that the low-key ceremony being organized to kick off President Muhammadu Buhari's second term in office became necessary as 'the country can ill-afford two major celebrations within a two-week interval.'

According to him, instead of an elaborate presidential inauguration on May 29, the Federal Government has invited world leaders for the maiden June 12 Democracy Day celebration in the country.

A number of the events earlier slated for the May 29 presidential inauguration had been moved to June 12 Democracy Day, said the government's spokesman, noting the official commencement of the new Democracy Day in 2019 is in fulfilment of a declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018, as reported by Xinhua.

June 12, now declared a national holiday, is remembered in Nigeria as the day in which a presidential election adjudged the "most free and fair" was held in 1993. The election was later annulled by then military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

Activities marking the June 12 Democracy Day celebration would kick off on June 7, while a historical exhibition in arts, pictures, and immersive environment would run through June 12, Mohammed said.

"June 12 will start off with a parade at the Eagle Square (in Abuja) and the Democracy Day program will be wrapped up with a dinner and gala night at the State House," he cited, Xinhua noted.

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