Posted by Chinenye on Wed 24th Jun, 2026 - tori.ng
A fresh wave of reactions has erupted after a top presidential aide publicly challenged the widespread narrative of hardship in Nigeria.
(Bayo Onanuga. Photo Credit; Arise TV)
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has dismissed claims of widespread hunger across Nigeria, insisting that many citizens are already reaping the benefits of policies introduced under President Bola Tinubu's administration.
Speaking during an interview shared on social media, Onanuga said government initiatives and infrastructure projects are delivering real results on the ground, even as economic concerns persist.
He pointed to road construction as one example, recalling how he recently stumbled upon a newly built concrete road while detouring around traffic on a trip from Ibadan to Lagos.
"I just found myself on a paved road, concrete road. I said, 'Wow, when was this one built?'" he said.
He also cited the ongoing coastal highway project, noting it has cut his travel time between Lagos Island and Ajah from roughly two and a half hours to just over one hour.
Onanuga further drew attention to the federal student loan scheme and low-interest credit facilities for civil servants, arguing that such programmes are easing financial pressure on Nigerian families.
"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?" he asked.
The presidential aide acknowledged that economic difficulties exist but maintained that public discourse tends to amplify hardship while overlooking progress.
"I don't see the level of hunger people are talking about," he said.
His comments come amid sustained debate over the Tinubu administration's economic reforms including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalisation which have driven up living costs but which the government defends as essential to long-term economic recovery.