Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has dismissed recent remarks made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, saying they show he is disconnected from the real situation in Nigeria.
Atiku had claimed that Nigerians are being ravaged by hunger and compared the situation to events that triggered revolutions in France (1789) and Russia (1917). Onanuga described such comparisons as “grossly misleading” and “out of touch with reality.”
He argued that Atiku’s comments ignore ongoing improvements in the country’s economy under President Bola Tinubu.
Onanuga: Inflation easing, trade numbers improving
According to Onanuga, fresh data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) paints a more positive picture.
He noted that headline inflation fell for the fifth straight month in August.
He also pointed to a record trade surplus, saying non-oil exports are now contributing almost as much as crude oil, with a 48 to 52 percent ratio.
This, he said, shows that Nigeria’s economy is diversifying beyond dependence on crude oil.
Reserves and government revenue rising, says FG
Onanuga explained that Nigeria’s foreign reserves are close to $42bn, up from $32bn when President Tinubu came into office.
He added that the administration has paid off over $7 billion in arrears, including $800 million owed to airlines.
He further stated that government revenues have never been this high.
According to him, states are paying salaries and pensions on time, while still having extra funds for projects—something not seen at this scale before.
For him, these gains are proof that reforms are working, even though critics refuse to accept them.
FG: Tinubu fixing PDP’s mistakes
The presidential aide argued that Nigeria is on the right track under Tinubu’s leadership, but Atiku and his party remain “stuck in the past” with negative rhetoric.
He blamed many of the current problems on the economic mismanagement during the PDP years, when Atiku was Vice President. He said Tinubu’s bold reforms are fixing those errors.
Onanuga stressed that “after just two years and five months in office, Tinubu’s government has made clear progress.”
Onanuga said that while Atiku may refuse to acknowledge these gains, ordinary Nigerians can already feel the positive changes happening across the country.
“Nigerians can see the progress,” he said, insisting that the administration remains focused on building a stronger economy.
