Presidency Lambasts Atiku, Highlights Economic Gains Under Tinubu
The Presidency has dismissed recent comments by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing his claims about widespread hunger in Nigeria as misleading and disconnected from current realities.
In a statement on Sunday, September 15, signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the Presidency said Atiku and his handlers were ignoring the progress being recorded in the country while resorting to “doomsday scenarios.”
Atiku had likened Nigeria’s situation to the conditions that led to the French Revolution of 1789 and the Russian Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, warning of possible unrest.
But Onanuga countered that recent data shows otherwise, citing the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which reported that headline inflation has declined for five consecutive months as of August. He also noted a record trade surplus, with non-oil exports contributing 48% to Nigeria’s trade balance compared to crude oil’s 52%.
According to him, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have risen to nearly $42 billion, up from $32 billion when President Tinubu assumed office, despite clearing over $7 billion in arrears, including $800 million owed to foreign airlines.
“Under President Tinubu, Nigeria is recording unprecedented revenues. States are now able to pay salaries and gratuities promptly and still have surplus funds for capital and social projects—an achievement not previously witnessed at this scale,” Onanuga said.
He stressed that Nigeria is “moving in the right direction,” while blaming many of today’s challenges on the mismanagement of the economy during the PDP years, when Atiku served as Vice President.
“After just two years and five months in office, we are proud of the progress being made under President Tinubu’s leadership. Atiku and his allies may choose to ignore these gains, but Nigerians can see and feel the positive changes taking place across the nation,” the statement added.
