Tinubu aide downplays hunger and insecurity claims

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the administration's record on the economy and security, dismissing widespread perceptions of hardship and asserting that many Nigerians are already benefiting from government policies. Onanuga made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

Onanuga argued that narratives of severe hunger and economic distress were exaggerated and had become entrenched early in Tinubu's tenure. He stated that he does not see the level of hunger people are discussing, citing his personal observations of his own staff. To illustrate economic progress, he pointed to specific infrastructure projects, including a newly constructed concrete road between Ibadan and Lagos and the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, which he said has significantly reduced his personal travel time.

The presidential aide also highlighted government social programmes, such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which provides interest-free loans to students, and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, offering low-interest loans to civil servants, as examples of direct benefits to citizens.