ABUJA, Nigeria – The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, saying he does not personally observe the level of hardship and hunger frequently highlighted by critics of the administration.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Onanuga argued that the Tinubu administration’s policies are already yielding tangible benefits for Nigerians, particularly through infrastructure development and road projects.
The presidential aide cited his recent experience travelling from Ibadan to Lagos as an example of the impact of government investments in infrastructure.
According to him, he was redirected by Google Maps due to traffic congestion on the Lagos approach and opted to travel through Shagamu and Ijebu-Ode, where he encountered a newly constructed concrete road.
“One day, I was travelling from Ibadan to Lagos, and Google Maps told me that there’s a go-slow in the approach to Lagos, and I decided to take Ijebu-Ode via Shagamu,” Onanuga said.
“What struck me most was that I just found myself on a paved road, concrete road. I said, ‘Wow, when was this one built?’”
He noted that residents of the area appeared satisfied with the development, adding that complaints about road conditions had significantly reduced.
“I found that our people, I mean, our Ijebu people, have stopped complaining. I said, ‘Oh, no wonder they now have a brand new road that’s not just an asphalt road, a concrete road,’” he stated.
Onanuga also highlighted the ongoing coastal highway project, which he said has improved travel times for many commuters, including himself.
The presidential spokesman, who resides in Ajah, Lagos, said the project has significantly reduced the duration of his journeys into the city.
“I live in Ajah. Anytime I go to Lagos, and I ask Google Maps to tell me how soon I will get home, Google Maps will tell me one hour, seven minutes. Before, it was two hours, 30 minutes, and the reason for that is that we now have a coastal road that has shortened my travel time,” he said.
Questioning criticisms of the administration’s performance, Onanuga maintained that such infrastructure projects demonstrate the benefits of the government’s policies.
“Is that not beneficial? What are people talking about really?” he asked.
His comments come amid ongoing public debates over the impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and foreign exchange policy changes, which many Nigerians say have contributed to rising living costs and economic hardship.
