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.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cdoomsday scenarios.\u201d<\/p>\n
Atiku had likened Nigeria\u2019s situation to the conditions that led to the French Revolution of 1789 and the Russian Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, warning of possible unrest.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s trade balance compared to crude oil\u2019s 52%.<\/p>\n
According to him, Nigeria\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder 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\u2014an achievement not previously witnessed at this scale,\u201d Onanuga said.<\/p>\n
He stressed that Nigeria is \u201cmoving in the right direction,\u201d while blaming many of today\u2019s challenges on the mismanagement of the economy during the PDP years, when Atiku served as Vice President.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter just two years and five months in office, we are proud of the progress being made under President Tinubu\u2019s 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,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n
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