The Presidency has issued a strong defense of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic and social policies, emphasizing that while constructive criticism is welcome, it must be rooted in facts rather than distortion or selective pessimism.
In a statement released by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, the administration responded to recent media portrayals—particularly a controversial editorial by Daily Trust—which it described as exaggerated, unbalanced, and misleading.
“This administration does not ask for silence in the face of hardship. It asks only for fairness and a shared commitment to rebuilding this country, not just exaggerating its pain,” Dare stated.
The Presidency addressed several claims made in the editorial, including projections of widespread hunger and economic collapse: The cited figure of 33 million Nigerians facing hunger was clarified as a worst-case scenario from the Cadre Harmonisé Food and Nutrition Insecurity Analysis—not a current reality. In response, the government has:
Contrary to claims of a “worthless naira,” the currency has rebounded from ₦1,800/$ in March to approximately ₦1,525/$ in August, driven by increased oil receipts, FX window unification, and reduced backlog of over $4 billion.
The Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer has reached 3 million vulnerable households, with plans to expand to 15 million. Over 396,000 students are receiving tuition loans and stipends via NELFUND.
The Presidency also refuted claims that the school feeding program had “fizzled out,” affirming that over 9.8 million children across 53,000 schools continue to benefit, alongside 200,000 cooks and local farmers. Additionally, the newly approved Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme will deliver targeted interventions across all 8,809 wards nationwide.
Dare emphasized that while the administration acknowledges the economic challenges facing Nigerians, it is essential to distinguish genuine concern from alarmist narratives that undermine national progress. “Let’s speak the truth. Yes, Nigerians are tightening belts — but Nigeria is healing,” he said.