Geopolitics › Sub-Saharan Africa › Nigeria
Bola Tinubu
President since May 2023· Leader
FactTreaties, membership, measured data, events.
Nigeria's president since May 2023, a former Lagos governor and political kingmaker pursuing hard economic reforms.
See it on the Geopolitics map →The picture
Born in 1952, he studied and worked as an accountant in the US, opposed military rule from exile, then governed Lagos State in 1999–2007, where he sharply raised tax revenue. He won the 2023 election with about 37% of the vote. On his first day he ended the costly fuel subsidy, then let the naira float; inflation topped 30% before easing below 15% in 2026. He chaired ECOWAS in 2023–25 and coordinated with the US on its December 2025 strikes.
Why it matters
His reforms are Africa's biggest test of whether painful market fixes can restore growth and investor confidence in a large democracy.
Record
Election results from INEC and the court rulings upholding them, central-bank and statistics-bureau data, and his decrees. His legacy is still being written.
What to watch
Questions about his age and early records persist. Outlook: whether he wins a second term in 2027 as living costs stay high.
Connections (2)
▸Bola Tinubu leads NigeriaFact
The relationship
As executive president, Tinubu heads the state, the government and the armed forces. His All Progressives Congress controls the National Assembly, letting him push reforms such as ending fuel subsidies, unifying exchange rates and a 2025 tax overhaul, while relying on state governors to deliver.
Since when and why
Abuja; sworn in May 29, 2023 after winning the February 2023 election. The next presidential vote is due in early 2027.
How we know
INEC results, the Supreme Court's October 2023 ruling upholding his win, and laws passed by the National Assembly.
What to watch
Whether the opposition coalition formed around the ADC party in 2025 can unseat him in 2027.
▸Bola Tinubu chaired the West African bloc during Sahel coups and the Alliance of Sahel StatesFact
The relationship
Weeks after Tinubu became ECOWAS chair, soldiers ousted Niger's president in July 2023. He led tough sanctions and a threat of military force to restore him. Instead, Mali and Burkina Faso backed Niger's junta, the three formed their own alliance, and they quit ECOWAS in January 2025.
Since when and why
Abuja and Niamey; Tinubu chaired ECOWAS from July 2023 to June 2025. Sanctions on Niger were lifted in February 2024.
How we know
ECOWAS summit communiqués, the juntas' withdrawal notices and the Alliance of Sahel States charter.
What to watch
Disputed: critics say the threat of force pushed the juntas together; supporters say ECOWAS had to defend its anti-coup rules. Whether they return is unclear.