The Special Adviser to the President 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 by Nigerians in public discourse.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy made this known in an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday.
Onanuga said several government programmes and infrastructure projects were already delivering benefits to Nigerians, despite criticisms of the administration’s handling of the economy.
He cited road infrastructure as one of the visible gains of Tinubu’s policies, recounting a recent trip from Ibadan to Lagos.
“One day, I was traveling from Ibadan to Lagos, and Google Maps told me that there’s a go-slow on 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, concrete road. I said: ‘Wow, when was this one built?’”
According to him, residents in the area had stopped complaining because of the improvement in road infrastructure.
“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,’” he said.
Onanuga also pointed to the ongoing coastal highway project, which he said had 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?”
The presidential aide also highlighted the Federal Government’s student loan initiative and access to low-interest credit facilities for workers as examples of policies designed to ease financial pressure on citizens.
“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, a very cheap loan at below interest is about seven per cent. Now people can access that loan at single digit. Are they not benefiting as well?” he asked.
Onanuga said public conversations about the economy often overlooked what he described as the gains of the Tinubu administration.
“We have been pigeonholed into certain assumptions, certain conclusions,” he said.
He also recalled a viral video from the early days of Tinubu’s 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.
While acknowledging that Nigerians face economic difficulties, Onanuga maintained that his personal interactions did not reflect the level of hardship often 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 said.
