The Presidency on Monday challenged opposition leaders and critics of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to move beyond attacks and articulate alternative policies that would better tackle Nigeria’s complex challenges.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Mr. Sunday Dare, the Presidency challenged opponents to tell Nigerians the “alternative strategies they would propose in contrast to this administration’s extensive list of significant achievements currently benefiting Nigerians in real-time” instead of resorting to what it described as “a penchant and deliberate attempt to find faults and trade in deceit.”
The response came after a faction of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, released a critical statement alleging economic regression, democratic backsliding, and mismanagement under the Tinubu administration.
Dare dismissed the group’s claims as “prejudiced” and “unsupported by facts,” suggesting they echoed the sentiments of opposition figures Afenifere openly supported during the 2023 general elections.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s comeback story is firmly underway. A balanced assessment based on available data reveals a more objective and progressive picture”, Dare stated.
On the economy, the Presidency pointed to significant fiscal reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and unification of exchange rates.
Though controversial, the government insists these steps saved the country over $10 billion in 2023 alone, boosted foreign reserves to $38.1 billion, and led to a trade surplus of N18.86 trillion.
“Inflation, though high, is beginning to moderate,” Dare said, noting that the annual inflation rate dropped to 23.71% in April 2025 from 24.23% the previous month, with food inflation easing slightly.
He highlighted numerous initiatives rolled out to cushion the effects of reforms: over 5.7 million households benefiting from cash transfers, 900,000 receiving grants and loans under the Presidential Intervention Scheme, 600,000 accessing student loans, and a new minimum wage of N70,000. The NYSC monthly stipend was also raised from N33,000 to N77,000.
On transport and energy reforms, Dare cited the distribution of free CNG kits to thousands of drivers, the rollout of CNG buses in partnership with state governments, and a subsequent decline in transport costs.
The statement further listed achievements across sectors: over $10 billion in FX backlog cleared, 60% increase in federal allocations to states, N50 billion released to end university union strikes, revitalisation of over 1,000 primary healthcare centres, and digital infrastructure projects connecting more than two million Nigerians.
The Presidency also touted macroeconomic milestones: 3.84% GDP growth in Q4 2024, over $50 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments, an increase in net foreign reserves from $3.99 billion to $23.11 billion, and significant inflows into solid minerals and oil and gas sectors.
Addressing concerns over the cost of governance and the long-stalled Oronsaye Report, which recommends the merger of redundant government agencies, Dare noted that while full implementation remains pending, Tinubu’s administration has shown fiscal prudence.
“The fiscal deficit was reduced from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024, and the debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped from nearly 100% in 2022 to under 40% by 2024,” he said.
The administration also raked in over N6 trillion in revenue in Q1 2025, aided by the removal of Ways and Means advances and subsidies.
In response to accusations of prebendalism and elite favoritism, Dare referenced ongoing anti-corruption efforts, including the suspension of a cabinet minister in January 2024 and the work of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which secured a record 4,111 convictions and recovered N364 billion in 2024.
He also pointed to the landmark recovery and forfeiture of an Abuja estate comprising 725 housing units, now under the Federal Ministry of Housing’s control.
On democratic institutions, the statement rejected the factional Afenifere’s claim that the Tinubu administration is fostering “totalitarianism” or eroding democratic checks and balances.
“The Supreme Court has upheld opposition victories in states like Kano, Plateau, and Abia,” Dare argued, citing these rulings as proof of judicial independence.
He also rebuffed claims of government complicity in cracking down on peaceful protest or manipulating the electoral process through partisan appointments.
Concerning the issue of state policing, which Afenifere endorsed as a democratic necessity, the Presidency urged caution and insisted that security impact assessments guide such reforms to avoid misuse or unintended consequences.
In terms of national security, the Presidency said over 13,500 terrorists and bandits were neutralised, and 7,000 arrested within the past year.
“Farms have reopened, and rural communities are returning to productivity,” Dare added, listing further investments in agriculture, tractors, and fertiliser distribution.
The Tinubu government, he said, has also demonstrated inclusivity through the creation of six geo-political regional development commissions, each tasked with accelerating localised growth.
On the broader political climate, Dare rejected as “baseless” allegations that the administration is meddling in opposition party affairs or trying to stifle dissent in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
He cited the country’s improved international ratings, including a Moody’s upgrade from Caa1 to B3 and Fitch’s credit rating bump, as validation that Tinubu’s reforms are gaining traction.
“The government is not oblivious to the hardships Nigerians are going through, but the signs of recovery are real. The administration is working with urgency to deliver more tangible results”, Dare affirmed.
He concluded that critics like the Afenifere faction “see the cup as half empty,” whereas “the facts show the cup is half full — and filling steadily.”
“From stabilising the naira and curbing inflation, to reducing debt burdens and expanding access to education and health, the Tinubu administration is delivering bold reforms with real results”, Dare asserted.
The Presidency called on all stakeholders, especially political leaders, to work collaboratively in countering fake news and supporting Nigeria’s recovery, warning against the spread of AI-generated disinformation and misleading rhetoric.
“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is turning the corner. The comeback story is far from over — but it is firmly underway”, the statement concluded.
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