Muhammadu Buhari has been sworn in as the country’s fifth executive president at a ceremony  attended by dignitaries from all over the world.

Buhari arrived the Eagle Square, venue of the inauguration ceremony, around 10:00am in his characteristic northern attire and at exactly 10:45 am, he mounted the podium to take his oath of office and oath of allegiance, and by that became the President of Nigeria, taking over from President Goodluck Jonathan.

After the swearing in, the outgoing president congratulated Buhari and presented to him copies of the Constitution and the National and Armed Forces Flags.

Shortly afterwards, Jonathan and his deputy, Namadi Sambo, exited the venue, their vehicles not bearing any insignia on them.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by former presidents and heads of state of Nigeria and world leaders, including US Secretary of State, John Kerry, South Africa President, Jacob Zuma, Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe, among others.

Having failed in three previous attempts to realise his ambition, Buhari defeated the outgoing president in the March 28 presidential election under the All Progressives Congress, APC, a coalition of opposition parties.

Buhari’s inauguration is the first transfer of power from a ruling party to an opposition party in the history of the country.