Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga has dismissed widespread claims of worsening hunger and hardship in Nigeria, arguing that the situation does not reflect the experiences he observes among people working around him.
Speaking in defence of the administration’s economic policies, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy said he regularly engages with his private staff to understand how they are coping with the current economic realities.
“I have people working for me privately and I ask them questions about how they’re surviving and adjusting,” Onanuga said. “I don’t see the level of hunger Nigerians are complaining about.”
The presidential aide also pointed to the federal government’s decision to raise the national minimum wage, describing it as evidence of efforts to ease the financial burden on workers.
“This government has increased the minimum wage by more than 100 per cent,” he said, suggesting that the policy demonstrates the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Onanuga’s remarks come amid persistent public concerns over the rising cost of living, soaring food prices and inflation, with many households and businesses struggling to cope with the economic pressures that have followed recent policy reforms.
His comments are likely to fuel further debate over the state of the economy and whether government interventions have translated into meaningful relief for ordinary Nigerians.
