I Don’t See The Hunger Nigerians Complain About — Tinubu’s Aide

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has said he does not see the level of hunger many Nigerians talk about, despite growing concerns over the country’s economic situation.

Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, Onanuga defended the Tinubu administration’s policies, saying several government projects and programmes are already benefiting Nigerians.

His comments come at a time when many Nigerians continue to complain about the rising cost of living and economic hardship across the country.

According to Onanuga, some of the achievements of the government are often ignored 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.

The presidential aide pointed to ongoing road projects as one of the areas where Nigerians are already seeing results.

He recalled travelling from Ibadan to Lagos and taking an alternative route through Ijebu-Ode after receiving a traffic alert from Google Maps. During the journey, he said he was surprised to find a newly constructed concrete road.

“What struck me most was that I just found myself on a paved road, concrete road. I said, ‘Wow, when was this one built?’”

Onanuga said people living in the area appeared satisfied with the development.

“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 also cited the coastal highway project, saying it has reduced travel time 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.

“Is that not beneficial? What are people talking about really?”

Onanuga also highlighted the Federal Government’s student loan programme and low-interest loans available to civil servants.

According to him, such initiatives are helping families and workers cope with financial challenges.

“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, very cheap loan at below interest, it is about seven per cent. Now people can access that loan at single digit. Are they not benefiting as well?”

The presidential spokesman said many people focus only on the negative side of the economy without recognising some of the progress made by the government.

“We have been pigeonholed into certain assumptions, certain conclusions,” he said.

Onanuga also referred to a viral video from the early days of the Tinubu administration that suggested Nigerians were hungry, saying the narrative has continued ever since.

“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.