The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, saying he does not personally see the level of hunger often highlighted in public discourse.
Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, he acknowledged that Nigerians face economic difficulties but was quick to point out that his personal interactions with people around him do not reflect the level of hardship frequently portrayed in public discussions.
“I’m a Nigerian. I have people working for me privately. I don’t see the level of hunger people are talking about because I see them, and I keep asking them questions: how are things, how are they adjusting? What are the problems?” he disclosed that he will often ask those around him.
The presidential spokesman recalled a viral video from the early days of the Tinubu administration, which featured a voice-over suggesting widespread hunger among Nigerians.
“I think the President went to Lagos, he was coming from the Central Mosque, and somebody now did a voice-over saying ‘Ebi n pawa o,’ and that means we are hungry. Since then, people have been saying that,” he said.
He argued that several government programmes and infrastructure projects are already delivering benefits to citizens across the country.
Onanuga cited improvements in road infrastructure as one of the visible outcomes of the administration’s policies, recounting a recent trip from Ibadan to Lagos.
According to him, “One day, I was traveling from Ibadan to Lagos, and Google Maps told me that there’s a go-slow in the approach to Lagos, and I decided to take Ijebu-Ode via Shagamu.
“What struck me most was that I just found myself on a paved road, concrete road. I said, ‘Wow, when was this one built?’”
Disclosing that residents in the area have reacted positively to the development, he went on to state that “I found that our people, I mean, our Ijebu people, have stopped complaining. I said, ‘Oh, no wonder they now have a brand new road that’s not just an asphalt road, a concrete road.”.
The presidential spokesman also pointed to the ongoing coastal highway project, which he said has eased movement for many commuters, including himself.
“I live in Ajah. Anytime I go to Lagos, and I ask Google Maps to tell me how soon I will get home, Google Maps will tell me one hour, seven minutes. Before, it was two hours, 30 minutes, and the reason for that is that we now have a coastal road that has shortened my travel time,” he said.
Questioning criticisms of government performance, he added, “Is that not beneficial? What are people talking about really?”
Onanuga further highlighted the Federal Government’s student loan initiative and access to low-interest credit facilities for workers as examples of policies aimed at easing financial pressures on Nigerians.
“If you are a parent and you have four children in university, and they’re able to access federal loan, which is interest free, are they not benefiting?
“If you are a civil servant and you can access the credit card, very cheap loan at below interest, it is about seven per cent. Now people can access that loan at single digit. Are they not benefiting as well?” he asked.
He maintained that public conversations about the economy often overlook some of the gains recorded by the administration.
“We have been pigeonholed into certain assumptions, certain conclusions,” he said.
