A wave of public backlash has erupted across Nigeria following controversial comments made by President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, on hunger in Nigeria.
Speaking in a live interview, the presidential spokesman downplayed reports of a severe cost-of-living crisis, insisting that he does not personally observe the level of hunger frequently highlighted in public discourse.
The hunger comments from Tinubu’s aide have sparked immediate outrage on social media and from civil society, with citizens accusing the administration of being deeply disconnected from the economic realities of ordinary citizens in Nigeria.
Appearing on Arise News, Onanuga defended the economic policies of the Tinubu administration. He argued that public conversations surrounding the economy have been “pigeonholed into certain assumptions” and fail to notice the tangible benefits of ongoing reforms.
“We have been pigeon-holed into certain assumptions and conclusions,” he said.
“It’s like in the early days of this government. Somebody did a voice-over saying that we are hungry. Since then, people have been saying that.
“I am 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 (workers) and I keep asking them questions. How are things? How are they adjusting? What are the problems?”
Onanuga noted that Nigerians are already feeling the impact of the infrastructure projects being executed by the federal government across the country.
He cited his experience while travelling from Ibadan to Lagos, saying he was surprised to discover a newly constructed concrete road through Ijebu-Ode.
“One day, I was travelling from Ibadan to Lagos and Google Maps told me there was a go-slow as I approached Lagos. So, I decided to take Ijebu-Ode via Sagamu. What struck me was that I just found myself on a paved concrete road. I said, Wow, when was this one built?” he said.
Onanuga added that the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway had also reduced travel time to his residence in Ajah.
“Anytime I go to Lagos and ask Google Maps to tell me how long it will take me to get home, it tells me one hour seven minutes,” he said.
“Before, it used to be two hours and 30 minutes. The reason is that we now have a coastal road that has shortened my travel time.”
He also pointed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CreditCorp) as examples of programmes providing direct benefits to citizens.
“If you are a parent and you have four children in the university, and they can access a federal interest-free loan, are they not benefiting? If you are a civil servant and you can access CreditCorp, a very cheap loan at a single-digit interest rate, are they not benefiting?” he asked.
Onanuga also accused the media of exaggerating the country’s security challenges, saying reports often create the impression that the entire country is unsafe.
“The media in Nigeria are even creating the problem. The way they report insecurity is as if the entire country is consumed,” he said.
Meanwhile, these comments have generated reactions from many citizens.
Below are some of the reactions;
