Nigeria’s President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has told his expectant countrymen and women not to expect miracles from him when he assumes power next month – specifically on May 29.

Buhari won the March 28 presidential ballot on the wings of swift change promised by him and his All Progressives Congress (APC). But change may be slow in coming, the former military ruler who is the first to democratically unseat an incumbent, now says the expectations are unrealistic.

Asked by BBC how quickly his regime would win the war against Boko Haram insurgents, Buhari replied: “For five, six years, the Nigerian enforcement law agencies, including the military, couldn’t secure 14 local governments. How can I promise miracles when I come? But with the cooperation of our neighbours Cameroon, Chad, Niger and the international community, and the commitment we are going to get from the military, I think it will take us a much shorter time to deal with it.

On his other major campaign promises to decisively fight corruption and unemployment, the President-elect said: “I made that promise and I hope Nigerians will give me the opportunity to see whether my effort will be good enough or not.”

•Photo shows expectant Buhari supporters brandishing his poster during the campaign period.