NGScorecard

Abubakar inherited a Nigeria suspended from the Commonwealth, under sanctions, internationally isolated, and still holding MKO Abiola — the presumed winner of the annulled 1993 election — in detention.

He ran a fast, credible transition that restored civilian rule and Nigeria's international standing within a year. Abiola, however, died in custody on 7 July 1998, weeks into the new government, in disputed circumstances — a loss the transition could not undo.

The new government took over an economy weakened by years of misrule and large-scale looting at the top.

The short transition period was itself later criticised for heavy, poorly documented spending and contract awards that further ran down foreign reserves before the handover.