ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Nigerian government has strongly rejected claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the country is facing a worsening hunger crisis, which he warned could lead to social unrest.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, dismissed the former Vice President’s statement as “grossly misleading” and out of touch with Nigeria’s economic reality.
In a statement posted on X, Mr. Onanuga countered Mr. Abubakar’s assessment with recent economic data, citing figures from the National Bureau of Statistics. He stated that headline inflation has now declined for five consecutive months, and a record trade surplus has been reported.
Mr. Onanuga added that the contribution of non-oil exports to the country’s trade balance is now almost on par with crude oil, at a ratio of 48% to 52%. He also highlighted a rise in foreign exchange reserves, which he said are now approaching $42 billion, up from $32 billion when the Tinubu administration took office.
The special adviser also claimed that the government has since cleared over $7 billion in arrears, including a significant amount owed to airlines. He noted that states are now receiving “unprecedented revenues,” allowing them to promptly pay salaries and invest in social projects.
Mr. Onanuga stated that “Nigeria is moving in the right direction,” and claimed that the challenges facing the country are a result of “economic mismanagement during the PDP years, when Atiku was Vice President.” He concluded that the current administration is working to correct those errors and that Nigerians “can see and feel the positive changes taking place across the nation.”
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