The presidential spokesman also cited ongoing projects such as the coastal highway in Lagos as evidence of progress
KaNo —
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the level of hunger often portrayed in public discourse is exaggerated and does not fully reflect realities on the ground.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Onanuga maintained that several policies introduced by the Tinubu administration were already yielding tangible benefits for Nigerians, particularly in infrastructure, education financing, and access to credit.
Recounting a recent journey from Ibadan to Lagos, the presidential aide described his surprise at encountering newly constructed concrete roads along an alternative route through Ijebu-Ode and Shagamu.
According to him, the experience highlighted the scale of infrastructural development that may not always receive widespread attention.
“One day, I was travelling 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, a concrete road. I said, ‘Wow, when was this one built?’” he said.
Onanuga added that residents in the area appeared satisfied with the development, suggesting that improved infrastructure had contributed to a reduction in complaints among locals.
“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 added.
He explained that the project had significantly reduced travel time for commuters, including himself, particularly along the Ajah corridor.
“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 persistent criticisms of government performance, Onanuga asked rhetorically whether such improvements should not be considered beneficial to citizens.
Beyond infrastructure, he highlighted social intervention programmes introduced by the Federal Government, including the student loan scheme and low-interest credit facilities for workers.
He argued that these initiatives were designed to ease financial pressures on households, particularly those with children in tertiary institutions.
“If you are a parent and you have four children in university, and they’re able to access federal loans, which are interest-free, are they not benefiting?” he asked.
He also referenced credit facilities available to civil servants, noting that loans at single-digit interest rates were helping workers manage economic challenges.
“If you are a civil servant and you can access the credit card, a very cheap loan at below interest, it is about seven per cent. Now people can access that loan at a single digit. Are they not benefiting as well?” he said.
“We have been pigeonholed into certain assumptions, certain conclusions,” he said.
The presidential aide also revisited a viral video from the early days of the Tinubu administration, which featured a voice-over lamenting widespread hunger. According to him, the clip contributed significantly to shaping public perception of economic hardship.
“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 noted.
While acknowledging that Nigerians are experiencing economic difficulties, Onanuga insisted that his personal interactions did not reflect the severity of hardship frequently portrayed in public discussions.
In a related development, Onanuga criticised recent comments by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, who had pledged to increase Nigeria’s electricity generation and distribution capacity by at least 10,000 megawatts within four years if elected in 2027.
Speaking on the same programme, Onanuga described Obi’s promise as indicative of a misunderstanding of Nigeria’s power sector, arguing that the issue was not merely about increasing generation capacity.
“What people don’t know, and which unfortunately Peter Obi did not know when he came and said he’s going to generate 10,000 megawatts, is that we already have in Nigeria installed capacity of 13,500 megawatts,” he said.
He explained that structural challenges, including inadequate gas supply, legacy debts owed to gas suppliers, and weaknesses in the national transmission network, were the primary constraints affecting electricity generation and distribution.
According to him, power sector operators are currently burdened by debts running into trillions of naira, which has hindered optimal performance.
“What are the problems? No gas. The players in the sector are owing the gas companies legacy debt of over N4tn, which has become the problem of this administration, and it is trying to clear it,” he added.
“To show that he meant business, the first thing he did when he came to office was sign the Electricity Act, which enables states to generate power, transmit power and distribute power,” he said.
He added that several states had begun to take advantage of the new legal framework, while others were expected to follow, thereby fostering competition and improving efficiency in the sector.
The presidential spokesman also acknowledged the challenges posed by Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure, describing the national grid as outdated and in need of significant upgrades.
“The grid is outdated,” he said, adding that the Federal Government had initiated reforms to modernise critical assets, including plans to establish a Grid Asset Management Company.
Onanuga maintained that despite existing challenges, power generation had improved under the current administration compared to the levels inherited in May 2023.
