Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has sparked a new economic debate, saying public narratives of widespread hunger in Nigeria are overstated.
Acknowledging that citizens face economic friction, Onanuga argued that these challenges are part of a broader, necessary transition toward long-term stabilization under President Bola Tinubu.
During an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, Onanuga maintained that various government initiativesincluding key infrastructure projects, the student loan scheme, and credit facilities for workers are already delivering tangible benefits to citizens.
To support his point, he noted that recent road projects have noticeably improved travel experiences across the country.
Sharing a personal experience, Onanuga recalled a recent trip from Ibadan to Lagos, during which he was highly impressed by a newly constructed concrete road along the Ijebu-Ode axis.
“One day I was traveling 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, concrete road. I said, ‘Wow, when was this one built?’” he said.
He added that the road had changed public perception in the area.
“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.’”
Onanuga also pointed to the impact of the coastal highway project, saying it has reduced travel time for residents.
“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?”
The presidential aide further highlighted the Federal Government’s student loan scheme and access to low-interest credit for civil servants as evidence that government policies are making a difference.
“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.
“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?”
Onanuga argued that public discourse has become dominated by assumptions that overlook positive developments.
“We have been pigeonholed into certain assumptions, certain conclusions,” he said.
Referring to a viral incident during the early days of the Tinubu administration, he recalled how a video of the President returning from a mosque in Lagos was accompanied by a voice-over suggesting widespread hunger.
“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.
While acknowledging economic challenges, Onanuga maintained that his personal interactions do not reflect the scale of hardship often portrayed 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 comments come at a critical time, as food inflation and the rising cost of living dominate national discourse.
While citizens feel the pinch of surging prices triggered by recent reforms, the government maintains that the pain is a prerequisite for economic recovery.
Onanuga highlighted increased business activity, new investments, and targeted government interventions as evidence of commercial resilience that contradicts claims of massive hunger.