Presidency Supports Tinubu’s Policies, Says Criticism Must Be Factual

Nigeria — The Presidency has criticised a recent editorial by a newspaper, describing it as exaggerated, unbalanced, and a misrepresentation of the state of the nation.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, in a statement on Friday, said while the administration welcomes constructive criticism, it must be “anchored on facts, not distortion or selective pessimism.”

According to him, the Tinubu administration is not denying the economic challenges being faced by some Nigerians but will not allow “exaggerated pessimism and generalisation” to distort the reality.

“The irony is that what is often criticised today are, in fact, the policies that will ensure that Nigerians have a more secure, stable, and prosperous future,” he stated.

Citing the UNICEF-linked hunger projection referenced by the newspaper, Dare clarified that it was based on the Cadre Harmonisé Food and Nutrition Insecurity Analysis—a worst-case scenario for the June–August 2025 lean season—rather than a current count.

“Here are some of the measures taken by the government to ensure we never get there: over 42,000 metric tons of grains have been released from federal strategic reserves; 117,000 metric tons are under additional procurement; the President activated the Food Security Council; and emergency nutrition support has been scaled up in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Katsina, Sokoto, and Bauchi States,” he said.

On the naira’s performance, Dare rejected the paper’s “worthless naira” description, noting that the currency had strengthened from ₦1,800/$ in March 2024 to about ₦1,525/$ as of August 1, 2025.

“The naira has not collapsed—it has been corrected and is now recovering,” he insisted, attributing the rebound to increased oil receipts, restored investor confidence, unification of the FX window, and the reduction of the FX backlog by over $4bn.

The presidential aide also dismissed claims that the school feeding programme had “fizzled out,” insisting that over 9.8 million children in 53,000 schools continue to benefit, alongside more than 200,000 cooks and local farmers engaged nationwide.

Dare added that three million vulnerable households have received ₦75,000 each under the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer, with plans to reach 15 million, while over 396,000 students are benefiting from tuition loans and stipends through NELFUND.

He also highlighted the President’s recently approved Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which targets all 8,809 wards in Nigeria with interventions in poverty alleviation, food security, infrastructure, power, and job creation.

“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,” he said.

Margret Oshinowo  | August 8, 2025