The presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, from 2015 to 2023, represents one of the most complex and contentious periods in Nigeria’s recent history. His administration was marked by a combination of economic struggles, large-scale corruption scandals, widespread insecurity, and social upheaval. As Nigeria's leader, Buhari promised sweeping reforms, particularly in tackling corruption and improving security, but his regime was also marred by allegations of missing funds, controversial policy decisions, and the growing mental health crisis among Nigerians due to ongoing instability.
In this article, we will explore the traumatic events during Buhari’s presidency, examining high-profile corruption cases, money laundering allegations, and their connection to the rising social and mental health challenges. We will back these analyses with major news reports, expert opinions, and verified data from Nigerian media sources.
The Buhari Administration: Promises vs. Reality
In 2015, Muhammadu Buhari, a former military head of state, was elected president on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). His campaign was built on three key pillars: fighting corruption, improving security (especially in dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency), and revitalizing the economy.
Buhari's anti-corruption stance was particularly potent. With a reputation for being incorruptible, many Nigerians saw him as the right leader to dismantle the system of corruption that had plagued the country for decades. However, over the course of his presidency, several high-profile cases of missing money and scandals emerged, which left many questioning whether his administration lived up to its promises.
Corruption Scandals and Missing Funds
One of the most significant issues during Buhari’s presidency was the numerous corruption cases involving missing money. Some of these scandals were related to high-ranking government officials, while others implicated agencies under the administration's watch. Below are some of the most prominent cases.
The Maina Scandal: Pension Funds Disappearance
The reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, the former head of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, remains one of the most controversial episodes during Buhari’s tenure. Maina was dismissed and declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly mismanaging billions of naira from pension funds. However, in 2017, Maina was reinstated into public office, sparking outrage.
The story was covered extensively by Premium Times and The Nation. According to these outlets, the scandal exposed severe dysfunction in the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption agenda. Nigerians were disillusioned as the case seemed to symbolize the administration's selective fight against corruption.
The $2.1 Billion Arms Deal Scandal (Dasukigate)
One of the most sensational corruption cases under Buhari was the $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal involving Sambo Dasuki, the National Security Adviser under the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Although the scandal started before Buhari’s presidency, it was under his leadership that the investigation came to the forefront.
Dasuki was accused of diverting funds meant for purchasing arms to fight Boko Haram into private hands. Reports by The Guardian Nigeria and Sahara Reporters suggested that these funds were used for political purposes, including funding the election campaign of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015. While the Buhari administration pursued the case aggressively, many critics argued that it was used as a tool to persecute political opponents.
Allegations of Missing Oil Revenues
Nigeria, as one of Africa’s largest oil producers, relies heavily on petroleum revenues. However, under Buhari's watch, allegations surfaced of missing oil revenues. In 2018, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was accused of failing to remit over $25 billion in oil revenues to the national treasury. This controversy prompted investigations, although conclusive results were not fully achieved by the end of Buhari's presidency.
News agencies such as Vanguard and ThisDay reported extensively on this issue. Critics argued that the opacity in the oil sector persisted despite Buhari’s promises to clean up the industry .
The NDDC Scandal
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was another area that saw significant corruption allegations during Buhari's tenure. The NDDC, created to address the development needs of the Niger Delta region, was embroiled in a multi-billion-naira scandal involving mismanagement of funds, phantom contracts, and other forms of financial impropriety.
A report by Channels TV and Punch newspapers in 2020 uncovered that the NDDC had been involved in the reckless spending of billions of naira on contracts that were never executed. This led to public hearings where revelations of corruption shook the Nigerian public, further eroding confidence in Buhari’s administration .
The Controversial COVID-19 Palliatives
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Buhari's administration faced yet another scandal involving the mismanagement of relief funds meant to ease the suffering of Nigerians during the lockdown. Millions of dollars worth of food and essential items were either hoarded or misappropriated by state officials. When news broke that palliatives were being kept in warehouses across the country, mass looting ensued, as hungry and frustrated Nigerians stormed these facilities.
Al Jazeera and BBC Africa highlighted the widespread chaos and the anger of the populace, calling into question the government’s capacity to manage the crisis effectively .
The Impact of Insecurity on National Well-Being
Beyond corruption, insecurity during Buhari’s presidency left deep scars on the Nigerian psyche. Buhari inherited a Boko Haram insurgency that had devastated the northeast region, but his administration also faced the rise of new threats, including farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and the secessionist agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Boko Haram Insurgency
Despite initial gains against Boko Haram, the insurgency persisted throughout Buhari’s presidency. Reports of bombings, kidnappings, and attacks on villages were frequent, with thousands of Nigerians killed or displaced. The New York Times and Daily Trust provided detailed reports on the insurgency's toll on civilians, with many Nigerians left living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps under deplorable conditions .
The government’s failure to completely defeat Boko Haram, despite repeated claims of success, led to widespread feelings of hopelessness and fear. This uncertainty about safety further strained the mental health of Nigerians in affected regions.
Banditry and Kidnappings
The northwest region became synonymous with banditry during Buhari’s presidency. Bandits, often heavily armed, ravaged communities, abducting citizens for ransom. The most harrowing incidents involved mass kidnappings of schoolchildren, such as the Kankara and Jangebe school abductions. According to The Punch and Channels TV, these kidnappings created a climate of terror, where parents feared sending their children to school.
As banditry became more widespread, citizens in affected regions suffered from trauma and anxiety. Some families sold possessions or took loans to pay ransom for their kidnapped relatives, which led to economic ruin and psychological distress .
Farmer-Herder Conflicts
Under Buhari, Nigeria experienced an intensification of violent clashes between farmers and herders, particularly in the Middle Belt region. This conflict was largely driven by competition for land and water, exacerbated by climate change. The violence claimed thousands of lives and displaced many more. According to The Cable and Vanguard, the government’s inability to address this conflict left affected communities in a state of constant fear and insecurity .
These conflicts had severe mental health repercussions. Displacement, loss of property, and the death of loved ones left survivors grappling with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Economic Hardship and Rising Poverty
Buhari’s administration also coincided with an economic downturn that plunged millions of Nigerians into poverty. A combination of falling oil prices, poor policy decisions, and the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns left the country in recession twice during his presidency. Inflation soared, and unemployment reached record highs, with Nairametrics and The Guardian reporting that 40% of Nigerians lived below the poverty line as of 2021 .
This economic hardship had a profound effect on the mental health of Nigerians. Financial insecurity, job loss, and an inability to afford basic necessities led to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Reports of suicide, particularly among young people, increased, highlighting the growing mental health crisis in the country.
Mental Health Crisis: The Toll of a Traumatized Nation
The cumulative impact of corruption, insecurity, and economic hardship during Buhari’s presidency created a widespread mental health crisis in Nigeria. Experts such as Dr. Taiwo Sheikh, a renowned psychiatrist, warned that the nation was dealing with an unprecedented mental health emergency.
The Psychological Impact of Corruption
The pervasive corruption under Buhari’s regime fueled feelings of helplessness and disillusionment among Nigerians. Trust in institutions eroded as the government failed to hold corrupt officials accountable. According to The Guardian, widespread corruption contributes to a sense of alienation and powerlessness, factors that can lead to depression and anxiety .
Trauma from Insecurity
For millions of Nigerians living in conflict-affected areas, exposure to violence became a daily reality. Mental health professionals
Daily Trust and The Cable reported stories of families who had lost loved ones to bandit attacks, describing the emotional toll that comes with living in constant fear. In many rural communities, people were forced to abandon their homes and livelihoods, fleeing from bandits and insurgents. Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, which should have provided refuge, often became scenes of further despair. Overcrowded and underfunded, these camps left survivors in squalid conditions, exacerbating their psychological suffering.
Children, in particular, bore the brunt of the trauma. Psychologists reported increased cases of bed-wetting, nightmares, withdrawal, and aggression among children living in conflict zones. This growing mental health burden on Nigeria’s most vulnerable highlights the long-term impact of the insecurity that defined much of Buhari’s presidency.
The Mental Strain of Economic Hardship
Nigeria’s economic downturn during Buhari’s administration also had profound effects on the mental well-being of citizens. Rising inflation, mass unemployment, and increasing poverty placed immense strain on families, particularly in urban areas where the cost of living skyrocketed. The collapse of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns, left many families destitute. This economic hardship translated into a mental health crisis, with people struggling to cope with job losses, food insecurity, and rising costs of basic goods.
A study by Nigerian Health Watch in 2021 showed that mental health issues related to economic stress were on the rise, with a significant increase in cases of depression, anxiety, and even suicide. Nigeria, which already had limited mental health resources, found itself unprepared to address the surge in mental health crises triggered by economic hardship.
Several tragic stories from across the country highlighted this. In Lagos, Punch newspaper reported a disturbing rise in suicides among young people, many of whom had lost jobs or were unable to complete their education due to economic constraints. The increasing rate of suicides became so alarming that it spurred national conversations about mental health, with calls for better support systems for struggling Nigerians. However, systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure meant that mental health services remained largely inaccessible to the majority of the population.
Impact of COVID-19 and the Mismanagement of Palliatives
The COVID-19 pandemic further worsened Nigeria’s economic and mental health situation. During the early months of the pandemic, Buhari’s administration instituted lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus. While this was a necessary public health measure, it resulted in severe economic dislocation for many Nigerians, especially those in the informal sector who relied on daily wages.
To mitigate the economic impact, the government announced relief palliatives. However, these relief efforts were marred by widespread corruption and inefficiency. Investigations by Channels TV and BBC Africa revealed that food and financial aid meant for vulnerable communities were diverted or hoarded by government officials. This gross mismanagement became painfully evident when, during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, Nigerians uncovered warehouses stocked with COVID-19 relief items that had never been distributed.
The public outrage over the hoarded palliatives, combined with the economic pressures of the pandemic, contributed to a growing sense of alienation and frustration. The psychological toll of the pandemic, coupled with governmental failure, exacerbated mental health issues, as many Nigerians felt abandoned by the very institutions meant to protect them. The Nigerian Mental Health Association recorded a spike in anxiety-related disorders and substance abuse during the pandemic, reflecting the population’s struggle to cope with both the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
The #EndSARS Movement: A Nation’s Breaking Point
The #EndSARS protests of October 2020 marked a critical moment in Buhari’s presidency, illustrating the depth of frustration felt by Nigerians. What began as a protest against the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian police quickly morphed into a broader movement against police brutality, corruption, and the socio-economic issues plaguing the nation.
The Lekki Toll Gate Massacre
One of the most traumatic events in recent Nigerian history occurred on the night of October 20, 2020, when peaceful protesters were fired upon by security forces at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos. The event, widely referred to as the "Lekki Massacre," was streamed live on social media, capturing the horrific scene as soldiers opened fire on unarmed youth holding the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem.
Reports from CNN, Al Jazeera, and The Punch corroborated claims that multiple protesters were killed and many more injured. The Nigerian government, however, initially denied any fatalities, leading to widespread outrage and a breakdown in trust between the government and the citizens. The trauma from this event reverberated across the country, with many young Nigerians expressing deep emotional scars. Mental health professionals reported a surge in requests for counseling and therapy in the aftermath of the shooting.
The #EndSARS movement, and the government’s heavy-handed response, became symbolic of the broader discontent with the Buhari administration. Young people, already frustrated by unemployment, police brutality, and corruption, were left traumatized by the state’s use of force against peaceful protesters. The mental health toll of this event, coupled with the economic and social issues already present, pushed many Nigerians into deeper emotional distress.
Nationwide Protests and Police Brutality
Beyond the Lekki Toll Gate, the #EndSARS protests saw violent clashes between security forces and protesters in several states. The protests exposed the deep fractures within Nigerian society, where years of unaddressed grievances boiled over into the streets. The heavy-handed approach of the Nigerian police and military, who often used live ammunition to disperse crowds, added to the nation’s collective trauma.
The role of social media in documenting the protests and government response also contributed to a sense of shared trauma. Young Nigerians, many of whom were first-time protesters, were suddenly exposed to images of police brutality, arrests, and deaths on platforms like Twitter and Instagram. The psychological impact of constantly witnessing such violence, particularly among the youth, resulted in widespread mental health challenges. Activists and psychologists pointed to an increase in cases of anxiety, panic attacks, and depressive episodes among young Nigerians in the months following the protests.
Mental Health Services: A System Ill-Equipped for Crisis
One of the major challenges that persisted throughout Buhari's presidency was Nigeria's lack of adequate mental health infrastructure. Despite the growing need for mental health services, the country’s healthcare system remained underfunded and poorly managed. Nigeria’s mental health services are woefully inadequate, with only around 250 practicing psychiatrists for a population of over 200 million people, as reported by The Guardian Nigeria.
Stigma and Lack of Awareness
Stigma surrounding mental health issues remained a significant barrier to treatment. Many Nigerians, particularly in rural areas, viewed mental illness through the lens of cultural or religious superstition, leading to the belief that conditions like depression or anxiety were caused by spiritual forces or witchcraft. This cultural stigma often discouraged individuals from seeking professional help, leaving them to suffer in silence or turn to traditional healers.
Premium Times highlighted that mental health literacy in Nigeria remained low, with many people unaware of how to recognize the signs of mental illness or where to seek help. This lack of awareness, coupled with systemic challenges in the healthcare system, meant that even those who needed mental health care were unlikely to receive it.
Systemic Challenges in Mental Health Care Delivery
Nigeria’s mental health sector also faced systemic challenges, including insufficient funding, outdated facilities, and a lack of trained personnel. According to the Nigerian Health Watch, mental health facilities were largely concentrated in urban areas, leaving millions of people in rural communities without access to proper care. In addition, most of the country’s psychiatric hospitals were under-resourced and unable to provide comprehensive care to the growing number of patients seeking help.
The National Mental Health Policy, developed in 1991, remained largely unimplemented during Buhari’s administration. The lack of political will to prioritize mental health issues was evident in the absence of significant reforms or investments in this critical sector. While Buhari’s government took steps to address some healthcare challenges, mental health remained on the periphery of public health policy.
A Nation in Need of Healing
The presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, despite promises of change, left Nigeria grappling with significant socio-economic and psychological challenges. Corruption, insecurity, economic hardship, and government mismanagement during crises like COVID-19 created a volatile environment that took a toll on the mental well-being of the population. The #EndSARS movement and the tragic events at the Lekki Toll Gate exposed deep-rooted frustrations and collective trauma, particularly among Nigeria’s youth.
As Nigeria moves forward, it is clear that addressing the mental health crisis will require a multi-faceted approach. This includes increased funding for mental health services, nationwide mental health education campaigns to combat stigma, and a stronger political commitment to implementing reforms in both the healthcare and security sectors.
The scars left by the traumatic events during Buhari’s presidency will take years, if not decades, to heal. However, with the right policies and a commitment to improving mental health services, Nigeria can begin the process of recovery, helping its people heal from the emotional and psychological wounds inflicted during this tumultuous period.
During Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency, several bizarre and highly publicized scandals involving missing funds dominated Nigerian headlines. Among the most infamous were the incidents of animals allegedly swallowing significant sums of money. These stories, which quickly became viral and were widely ridiculed both domestically and internationally, were seen as symbols of the endemic corruption in Nigeria and contributed to deepening public frustration and mental fatigue among citizens.
These incidents, involving claims that a snake and a monkey had swallowed public funds, were seen as emblematic of the absurdity and lack of accountability in government institutions. They highlighted the extent of mismanagement and dishonesty that plagued the country's bureaucracy, further undermining public trust in the government.
The "Snake Swallowing N36 Million" Incident
The first of these bizarre scandals occurred in February 2018. It was reported that a snake had swallowed ₦36 million (about $100,000) from the vaults of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), a Nigerian agency responsible for administering entrance examinations into tertiary institutions.
The Details of the Incident
The story was first reported by Premium Times and Punch, and quickly spread across other media platforms. Philomena Chieshe, a JAMB official in Benue State, claimed that the missing money, which was collected from students for exam fees, had been swallowed by a mysterious snake. According to Chieshe’s account, her housemaid and a colleague had conspired with the snake to steal the money.
The explanation was so outlandish that it drew immediate public outrage and ridicule. Nigerians, already fed up with persistent reports of corruption and embezzlement, found the incident both shocking and darkly humorous. While the "snake swallowing money" story became a meme on social media, it also reflected a deeper truth about the state of governance in the country: public funds could disappear without accountability, and officials could concoct increasingly absurd excuses to explain away their theft.
An internal investigation was conducted by JAMB following the incident, and the board’s Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, later dismissed the claim as a false and desperate attempt by Chieshe to cover up the theft. While some of the involved officials were reprimanded, the broader issue of systemic corruption within public institutions remained unresolved.
The "Monkey Carted Away N70 Million" Incident
Barely a month after the snake swallowing scandal, another equally absurd and scandalous story broke. This time, it involved a claim that a monkey had made off with ₦70 million (approximately $194,000) belonging to the Northern Senators’ Forum (NSF), an association of lawmakers from the northern region of Nigeria.
The Details of the Incident
In March 2018, Senator Shehu Sani, a prominent and outspoken Nigerian senator, revealed that the forum’s funds, totaling ₦70 million, had mysteriously disappeared. According to reports, the money had been mismanaged or embezzled by a former chairman of the NSF. However, what caught the public’s attention was the claim that the money had been “swallowed by a monkey” at a farm owned by one of the forum’s officials.
The “monkey” incident, much like the snake-swallowing tale, became an object of public derision. Vanguard and The Guardian Nigeria covered the story extensively, and the public expressed both amusement and outrage at the explanation. The incident further cemented the perception that Nigerian public officials lacked seriousness and accountability when it came to public funds. The ludicrous nature of the excuse also fueled satire and mockery, with the Nigerian public venting their frustrations online through memes and social media trends.
Impact on Mental Health of Nigerians
While these incidents provided comic relief on the surface, they carried a deeper, more troubling impact on the collective psyche of Nigerians. The repeated absurdity of these events, paired with the realization that government officials were pilfering public funds without accountability, contributed to a pervasive sense of frustration, hopelessness, and disillusionment.
Psychological Effects of Systemic Corruption
The snake and monkey money scandals were not isolated incidents but rather indicative of a much larger, systemic issue. Corruption had become so deeply entrenched in Nigerian institutions that it eroded the public’s trust in government agencies. The excuses offered by officials in these scandals seemed to mock the intelligence of Nigerians, exacerbating feelings of powerlessness among the populace.
When citizens are regularly confronted with the idea that their leaders are stealing public funds and getting away with it, it can lead to a condition known as "learned helplessness." This psychological concept, first developed by psychologist Martin Seligman, refers to a state where individuals feel powerless to change their situation because they perceive that their actions will not lead to meaningful change. In Nigeria, many people began to feel that corruption was so ingrained in society that it was impossible to combat or even question. This feeling of helplessness is strongly linked to depression and anxiety.
Humiliation and National Self-Esteem
These incidents also had a humiliating effect on Nigerians' national pride. The idea that public officials could make such outlandish claims about animals swallowing millions of naira made Nigeria a laughingstock on the global stage. International news outlets, such as the BBC and Al Jazeera, picked up the stories, and Nigerians abroad reported feeling embarrassed and ashamed by the headlines.
Psychologists suggest that national humiliation can affect collective self-esteem. When a country is regularly perceived as corrupt, incompetent, or ridiculous, citizens may internalize these negative perceptions, which can contribute to a sense of collective despair. This national humiliation, coupled with the daily struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians, such as economic hardship and insecurity, led to a deterioration in the country's collective mental health.
Cynicism and Distrust in Governance
The snake and monkey scandals further fueled cynicism and distrust in Nigerian governance. When public officials are perceived as dishonest and corrupt, citizens become increasingly disillusioned with the political system. This erosion of trust can lead to disengagement from political processes, as people no longer believe that their votes or voices matter.
This distrust has significant mental health implications. Studies have shown that living in an environment where one feels disempowered and distrustful of institutions can lead to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The constant exposure to scandals and corruption made many Nigerians feel like they were stuck in a never-ending cycle of bad governance, which had profound effects on their emotional and psychological well-being.
Humor as a Coping Mechanism
While the snake and monkey swallowing money stories were outrageous, they also became a source of dark humor. Many Nigerians turned to humor as a coping mechanism, using jokes and memes to deal with the frustration of living in a country where corruption seemed to be the norm.
According to mental health professionals, humor can serve as a temporary buffer against the stresses of life. However, in the long term, this kind of coping mechanism does not address the underlying issues. While memes and jokes provided momentary relief, the deeper issues of corruption and poor governance continued to contribute to widespread feelings of helplessness and frustration.
The Long-Term Effects of Absurd Corruption Scandals
The snake and monkey scandals during Muhammadu Buhari's presidency, while seemingly absurd and amusing on the surface, reflected deeper systemic issues within Nigerian society. These incidents highlighted the extent of corruption, the lack of accountability, and the pervasive dishonesty in government institutions. Beyond the ridicule and humor, they contributed to a growing sense of cynicism, helplessness, and despair among the Nigerian population.
The psychological effects of these scandals were far-reaching. They eroded trust in government, exacerbated feelings of powerlessness, and humiliated the nation on the global stage. As a result, many Nigerians experienced heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. While humor provided a temporary escape, the long-term consequences of living in a society where corruption is both rampant and absurd took a toll on the mental health of the population.
Addressing these issues requires more than just holding individuals accountable for their actions. Nigeria needs systemic reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and good governance. Only then can the country begin to heal from the psychological wounds inflicted by decades of corruption and mismanagement.
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