At a well-attended ceremony, which attracted heads of state and government from over 50 countries, President Buhari and his deputy Vice president Yemi Osinbajo were formally sworn-in. He also received the instruments of office from now former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan, making him Nigeria's fifth democratically elected president.
Following the landmark occasion, President Buhari has become the first opposition figure to win a presidential election in Nigeria since independence in 1960. A former military ruler, President Buhari said he is a convert to democracy and would now do everything within his power to unite the country.
Among his major challenges will be combating corruption and ending the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast of the country. Having defeated President Jonathan who had been in office since 2010, by 15.4m votes to 12.9m votes, President Buhari received the constitution and national flags from his predecessor before taking his oath of office.
President Buhari said: "I will discharge my duties to the best of my ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law."
Among the guests at the ceremony are US Secretary of State John Kerry and African leaders including Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. After the oat, the announcer declared to the cheering audience: "Change has come to Nigeria."
President Buhari comes into power as Nigeria faces significant economic as well as security challenges and expectations are high. Apart from the fact that about unemployment is running at about 30%, 22 of Nigeria's 36 states owe salary arrears with no prospect of paying them in the face of falling crude oil prices.
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