Hunger claim by Nigerians exaggerated, says Onanuga

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has described widespread claims of hunger in Nigeria as exaggerated, insisting that government policies and infrastructure projects are already improving the lives of many citizens.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Mr Onanuga said his personal observations do not support the level of hardship often portrayed in public discourse and the media.

According to him, several initiatives of the Tinubu administration are yielding tangible benefits, particularly in infrastructure development.

Recounting a recent trip from Ibadan to Lagos, the presidential aide said he was impressed by the quality of roads constructed under the current administration.

“One day, I was travelling from Ibadan to Lagos, and Google Maps informed me of a traffic build-up on the approach to Lagos. I decided to take the Ijebu-Ode route through Shagamu,” he said.

“What struck me most was that I suddenly found myself on a paved concrete road. I said, ‘Wow, when was this built?’”

Mr Onanuga said residents of the area appeared satisfied with the development, noting that complaints had reduced following the construction of the road.

“I found that our people in Ijebu have stopped complaining. They now have a brand-new road that is not just asphalt but a concrete road,” he said.

He also cited the ongoing coastal highway project as another example of infrastructure investments benefiting Nigerians.

According to him, the project has significantly reduced travel time for commuters living in the Ajah area of Lagos.

“I live in Ajah. Whenever I travel to Lagos and ask Google Maps how long it will take me to get home, it tells me about one hour and seven minutes. Before now, it was about two hours and 30 minutes. The reason is that we now have a coastal road that has shortened travel time,” he said.

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

The presidential spokesman further highlighted the Federal Government’s student loan scheme and low-interest credit facilities for civil servants as measures designed to ease financial burdens on Nigerians.

“If you are a parent with four children in university and they can access federal student loans that are interest-free, are they not benefiting?” he asked.

“If you are a civil servant and can access a very cheap loan at about seven per cent interest, are you not benefiting as well?”

Mr Onanuga argued that public perception of the country’s economic situation may have been shaped by certain narratives that do not fully reflect realities on the ground.

“We have been pigeonholed into certain assumptions and conclusions,” he said.

Referring to a viral video involving President Tinubu, Onanuga said the narrative of widespread hunger gained traction after a voice-over was added to footage of the President leaving a mosque in Lagos.

“The President went to Lagos and was coming from the Central Mosque when somebody did a voice-over saying, ‘Ebi n pawa o’ (meaning ‘we are hungry’). Since then, people have continued repeating it,” he said.

While acknowledging that Nigerians are facing economic challenges, Mr Onanuga maintained that his interactions with people around him do not reflect the level of hunger frequently reported.

“I’m a Nigerian. I have people working for me privately, and I keep asking them how things are, how they are adjusting and what challenges they face. I don’t see the level of hunger people are talking about,” he said.