The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, pointing to road projects, student loans and low-interest credit schemes as evidence that government programmes are helping Nigerians.
The defence came on Tuesday when he reacted to public concerns about hardship and hunger in the country.
Onanuga said several government projects have produced visible results and should not be ignored in discussions about the economy.
He highlighted improvements in road infrastructure and said some communities are already enjoying the benefits.
Onanuga recalled a recent journey from Ibadan to Lagos. He said he diverted through Ijebu-Ode after receiving a traffic alert and was surprised by the quality of the road he used.
“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 people in the area appeared pleased 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.’”
The presidential aide also referred to the ongoing coastal highway project. He said the road has reduced travel time for many road users.
“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.”
Onanuga also pointed to social intervention programmes introduced by the Federal Government.
He said students are benefiting from interest-free education loans, while civil servants can access loans with single-digit interest rates.
“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?”
“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?”
Onanuga maintained that public debate on the economy often overlooks such programmes and projects.
While he acknowledged that economic challenges exist, he said his personal experience does not reflect the level of hunger often portrayed in public discussions.
“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.