Tinubu Has Taken “Bullets” To Keep Nigeria Standing – Presidential Aide

According to Ireporter Online, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the administration’s ongoing economic reforms, stating that the President made tough but necessary decisions to prevent Nigeria from sliding into fiscal collapse.

In an opinion piece titled “Bola Tinubu: the man who took the bullet for Nigeria to survive,” Onanuga said the reforms, though painful, were essential to stabilising the economy and laying the foundation for long-term growth. He accused opposition figures of intensifying misinformation campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, despite what he described as notable progress recorded under the administration in nearly three years in office.

Tinubu, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, is marking his third year in power, with Onanuga outlining the economic challenges inherited by the government, including petrol scarcity, multiple exchange rates, weak revenue generation, rising debt servicing costs, and an unsustainable fuel subsidy regime. He argued that the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange system were difficult but necessary measures that have since improved fiscal stability and boosted allocations to subnational governments.

“The man who has taken the bullets to make Nigeria survive a fiscal disaster is even more willing to take additional bullets to make all Nigerians safe,” Onanuga was quoted as saying.

He further noted that state governments were now benefiting from increased revenues from the Federation Account, enabling them to pay salaries and embark on infrastructure projects. He cited developments across several states, including Ogun, Oyo, Nasarawa, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, and Katsina, attributing the surge in projects to improved federal allocations. He added that direct allocation to local government councils would further deepen grassroots development across the country.

Onanuga also dismissed claims that opposition governors who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were financially induced, insisting their decisions were based on the perceived benefits of the reforms. He referenced public remarks from governors in Kwara, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Nasarawa, who reportedly acknowledged improvements in governance and fiscal capacity under the current administration.

He further highlighted growth in the stock market, noting that the All-Share Index had risen significantly from about 53,000 points in May 2023 to approximately 250,000 points, while market capitalisation reportedly increased from ₦30 trillion to ₦160 trillion. On infrastructure, he pointed to major projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, describing them as landmark developments in Nigeria’s post-independence history.

Additional reforms cited include investments in rail transportation, reforms in the oil and gas sector, expansion of student loan access through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, and consumer credit initiatives under CREDICORP. He also referenced efforts to improve electricity supply through grid upgrades, metering programmes, and plans to address outstanding debts in the power sector.

While acknowledging that insecurity remains a major challenge, particularly in parts of the country affected by banditry and terrorism, Onanuga said the administration is strengthening security operations through better equipment and international collaboration.

He concluded that history would ultimately remember the Tinubu administration for what he described as “historic reforms” and major infrastructure initiatives aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s economy.