President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that his age is beginning to impact his ability to discharge his functions that call for working for long hours in a day.

 

According to him, he is looking forward to resting when he leaves office in about 17 months.

 

The president made the confession in an interview on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on Thursday night.

 

The 79-year-old president said that his colleagues are now enjoying their retirement, adding that he looked forward to joining them when he leaves office in May, 2023.

 

 “Yes, I think COVID-19 has come to my rescue in the sense that the number of people that needed to see you has reduced.

 

 “And about my age, yes, I see my colleagues, they are now resting and I assure you that I’m looking forward to the next 17 months when I too would have to be less busy,” he said.

 

“The age is telling on me. Working now for 6, 7, 8 hours a day in the office is no joke.

 

“Questions of executive council memos from as many states as possible to be considered virtually every week.

 

“So, really it is a lot of hard work. But I asked for it and I cannot complain.”

 

 “I don’t expect appreciation from Nigerians,” said the President, who won the presidency first in 2015, after four failed attempts. He was reelected in 2019.