I don’t see the hunger Nigerians complain about — Tinubu’s aide

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to Nigeria's President on Information and Strategy, has asserted that he does not personally witness the extent of hunger that is often highlighted in public discussions. He defended the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, suggesting that various government initiatives and infrastructure developments are already yielding positive results for citizens across the nation.

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One day, I was traveling 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, concrete road. I said, ‘Wow, when was this one built?'

Onanuga pointed to improvements in road infrastructure as a tangible outcome of the administration's policies. He recounted a recent journey from Ibadan to Lagos, during which he took an alternative route via Ijebu-Ode and Shagamu. He expressed surprise and satisfaction upon finding himself on a newly paved, concrete road, noting that local residents in the area seemed pleased with the development. "I found that our people, I mean, our Ijebu people, have stopped complaining," he remarked, attributing their contentment to the new road.

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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.'

He also referenced the ongoing coastal highway project, stating it has significantly reduced his travel time from Ajah to Lagos. Previously taking over two hours, his commute is now approximately one hour, seven minutes, thanks to the new road. Onanuga questioned the basis of criticisms against the government's performance, asking, "Is that not beneficial? What are people talking about really?"

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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, and the reason for that is that we now have a coastal road that has shortened my travel time.

Furthermore, Onanuga highlighted the Federal Government's student loan initiative and the availability of low-interest credit for workers as measures designed to alleviate financial burdens. He posed rhetorical questions about the benefits of these programs, asking if parents whose children receive interest-free federal loans are not benefiting, or if civil servants accessing loans at single-digit interest rates are not also gaining from these policies. He concluded that public discourse on the economy tends to be narrowly focused, overlooking some of the administration's achievements.

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Is that not beneficial? What are people talking about really?