UPDATE 2-Nigeria's Buhari kicks off challenge-filled second term with low-key inauguration

* Nigeria's president begins second four-year term
* Some disappointed at absence of speech
* Military fighting Islamists and criminal gangs
* Growth remains weak in Africa's biggest economy
*

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By Paul Carsten
ABUJA, May 29 (Reuters) - Nigerian President Muhammadu
Buhari was sworn in on Wednesday for a second term at a low-key
inauguration ceremony in which he surprised many by not
delivering a speech.
The 76-year-old former military leader faces a long list of
challenges, including combating a sluggish economy, high
unemployment and a decade-old Islamic insurgency.
His four-year first term, in which he rarely gave public
addresses, was overshadowed by speculation about his health and
marked by a long absence abroad for medical treatment. But he
won a clear endorsement in February's election with 56% of the
vote.
Standing beside his wife, he took the presidential oath at
an open-air ceremony in the capital Abuja that the government
had previously said would be low-key to cut costs.
It was mostly attended by officials linked to the
government, military or ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
party. Foreign dignitaries will be invited to celebrations on
June 12, a national holiday, commemorating the 1999 return to
civilian rule.
Buhari will need to create jobs if he is to turn around the
country's fortunes over the next four years. Nearly a quarter of
the workforce is unemployed and most of its 190 million people
live on less than $2 a day.
"Our expectation is that Mr President will now focus more on
the issue of security, employment and agriculture because these
are the core areas," said Basil Ejidike, who chairs the APC in
southern Anambra state.
Some social media users were critical of the absence of a
speech. Software developer Tosin Olugbenga called it was a
"missed opportunity".
"It is an opportunity for the president to speak to
Nigerians and give further assurance of his commitment to a
better Nigeria," he said in a tweet.
Buhari refused to disclose details of an ailment that caused
him to seek treatment in Britain for five months in 2017.
Critics said that meant he was largely absent at a time when
Africa's biggest economy was reeling from the recession it sank
in to in 2016 - its first in 25 years - after prices of its main
export oil fell. His supporters said he ran an effective
administration and delegated to his deputy when overseas.
Buhari now has a second chance to turn campaign promises
into policies aimed at stimulating economic growth.
Nigeria's economy grew by 1.93% last year, its fastest pace
since the recession. Growth of 2.1% is forecast by the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) for this year, though that
would be among the slowest rates in Africa.
Tackling insecurity across much of the country is already a
priority. The military is fighting jihadist group Boko Haram and
an offshoot linked to Islamic State in the northeast, while
contending with communal violence over grazing land in central
states.
A separate surge of bandit attacks and other violence in the
northwest has forced 20,000 to flee to neighbouring Niger since
April, the U.N. refugee agency said on Tuesday. (Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; editing by John Stonestreet)