‘We Don’t See The Level Of Hunger Nigerians Complain About,’ Says Tinubu Presidency
24th June, 2026 | News
Onanuga Dismisses Claims of Widespread Hunger, Says Tinubu’s Policies Are Benefiting Nigerians
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has challenged widespread claims of severe hunger across Nigeria, arguing that many citizens are already benefiting from the policies and programmes introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Onanuga defended the government’s economic reforms, highlighting infrastructure projects, student loan schemes, and low-interest credit facilities as evidence that the administration is making a positive impact despite concerns over inflation, rising food prices, and the increasing cost of living.
According to him, several ongoing projects have improved the quality of life for many Nigerians, even as critics continue to raise concerns about economic hardship.
Recalling a recent trip from Ibadan to Lagos, Onanuga said he was pleasantly surprised to discover a newly constructed concrete road along the Ijebu-Ode route after Google Maps redirected him to avoid traffic congestion.
“One day I was travelling from Ibadan to Lagos, and Google Maps informed me that there was heavy traffic on the approach to Lagos. I decided to take the route through Ijebu-Ode via Shagamu and suddenly found myself on a paved concrete road. I was amazed and asked when it had been constructed,” he said.
The presidential aide added that the road project appeared to have positively affected residents in the area.
“I realised that many people in Ijebuland had stopped complaining. Then it became clear why—they now have a brand-new road, not just an asphalt road but a concrete one,” he stated.
Onanuga also cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, saying it has significantly reduced travel time for residents living in the Ajah area of Lagos.
“I live in Ajah. Whenever I am travelling home from Lagos and check Google Maps, it now shows about one hour and seven minutes. Previously, the journey could take as long as two and a half hours. The coastal road has shortened travel time considerably,” he said.
Questioning criticism of the project, he added: “Is that not beneficial? What exactly are people complaining about?”
The presidential spokesman further pointed to the federal government’s student loan programme, arguing that it has provided much-needed relief for thousands of families.
“If you are a parent with four children in university and they can access interest-free federal student loans, is that not a benefit?” he asked.
He also highlighted low-interest loan facilities available to civil servants, noting that workers can access credit at rates significantly below commercial lending rates.
“If you are a civil servant and can obtain loans at around seven per cent interest, are you not benefiting from that as well?” he said.
According to Onanuga, public conversations about the economy have become overly focused on negative narratives, while positive developments are often overlooked.
“We have been pigeonholed into certain assumptions and conclusions,” he remarked.
He also referenced a viral video from the early days of Tinubu’s presidency in which a voice-over repeatedly stated “Ebi n pawa o” (meaning “we are hungry”), arguing that the phrase has since become a recurring narrative in discussions about the country’s economic situation.
While acknowledging that many Nigerians are facing economic difficulties, Onanuga maintained that his personal observations do not support claims that hunger has reached the scale frequently portrayed by critics.
“I’m a Nigerian. I have people working for me privately, and I constantly ask them how they are coping and adjusting. Based on what I see, I do not observe the level of hunger that some people describe,” he said.