Your criticism of Tinubu’s administration biased, not fact-based — Presidency fires back at Afenifere

 The Nigerian Presidency has issued a  rebuttal to a recent statement by a faction of the Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, dismissing the group’s assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration as biased, politically motivated, and devoid of factual basis.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, described the faction’s criticism as jaundiced and deliberately misleading.

He asserted that the Tinubu administration is already delivering tangible results across economic, security, social, and institutional sectors of the country under its Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dare stated that the Afenifere faction’s comments raised serious concerns about what he characterised as a “penchant and deliberate attempt to find faults and trade in deceit instead of objectivity”.

According to him, the group had found it challenging to accept that Nigeria’s comeback story was firmly underway under President Tinubu.

He added that the group’s conclusion, that Tinubu’s government had brought about a decline in human development, economic mismanagement and democratic backsliding was essentially a rehash of opposition talking points, particularly from a candidate the group supported in the 2023 general election.

Responding to criticism of Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of exchange rates, the Presidency noted that these measures were not without their immediate challenges, but were necessary to stabilise the country’s long-term finances.

Dare argued that the assertion by Afenifere that the reforms had led to “unmitigated sufferings” and “economic deforms” failed to acknowledge their broader macroeconomic benefits.

He explained that the removal of fuel subsidies, announced on 29 May 2023, saved the federal government over $10 billion in 2023 alone, which helped reduce fiscal strain and enabled the redirection of public funds to critical sectors.

In addition, he said the floating of the naira and the unification of the foreign exchange market helped stabilise the currency market and boosted foreign reserves to $38.1 billion by 2024. These reforms, he said, contributed to a trade surplus of ₦18.86 trillion for the country.

Dare also pointed to recent inflation data as evidence of progress. He said that Nigeria’s annual inflation rate fell to 23.17 percent in April 2025 from 24.23 percent the previous month, with food inflation easing slightly to 21.26 percent from 21.79 percent.

He acknowledged the economic strain felt by ordinary Nigerians but emphasised that the administration had introduced safety nets to cushion the impact, particularly through a cash transfer programme reaching over 5.7 million vulnerable households.

While some critics have dismissed the subsidy and exchange rate reforms as “unforced errors”, Dare argued that such critiques failed to recognise the unsustainable nature of the former subsidy regime and the distortions created by multiple exchange rates.

He said a more balanced assessment would acknowledge the necessity of reform while advocating for better-targeted relief programmes.

In defending the administration’s performance, the Presidency listed a series of initiatives and milestones achieved over the past two years.

These included over 900,000 beneficiaries of the Presidential Loan and Grant Scheme, more than 600,000 students supported under the newly launched Student Loan Scheme (NELFUND), an increase in the national minimum wage to ₦70,000, and the rise of the NYSC monthly stipend from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000.

Other measures included the distribution of free Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) kits to thousands of commercial drivers and the rollout of CNG buses in partnership with state governments, which led to a significant reduction in transport costs.

Also, over ₦75 billion in palliative funds had been disbursed to states and local councils for food distribution and direct cash transfers.

Dare stated that the government had revitalised over 1,000 primary healthcare centres across the country, with another 5,500 currently undergoing upgrades.

He also mentioned the construction of more than 20,000 affordable housing units under the Renewed Hope Cities programme, alongside ₦200 billion in loans provided to farmers and agro-processors.

The Presidency reported that Nigeria recorded its highest GDP growth in three years at 3.84 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, and had received over $50 billion in new foreign direct investment commitments. Foreign exchange reserves had improved significantly from $3.99 billion in 2023 to $23.11 billion in 2024 and over $8 billion in new oil and gas investments had been unlocked.

Dare went on to challenge opposition politicians and critics to present credible alternative policies instead of dismissing the administration’s progress.

In response to claims that the government had failed to reduce the cost of governance by not implementing the Oronsaye Report, Dare admitted that the report had not been fully implemented but insisted that important fiscal reforms had been made.

He noted that the fiscal deficit had dropped from 5.4 percent of GDP in 2023 to 3.0 percent in 2024, while the debt service-to-revenue ratio had fallen from nearly 100 percent in 2022 to under 40 percent in 2024. Revenue collection reached ₦6 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, aided by the removal of Ways and Means financing and the subsidy withdrawal.

Dare stated that these steps demonstrated fiscal prudence and that the administration was earnestly working to reduce costs and improve efficiency, including steps toward implementing aspects of the Oronsaye Report.

On the issue of corruption, the Presidency dismissed claims by Afenifere that the administration was favouring privileged and connected individuals through questionable allocations and palliative distributions. Dare acknowledged that there had been some concerns raised about transparency but said the government had not turned a blind eye to misconduct.

He cited the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, in January 2024 over allegations of fund diversion, as evidence of the administration’s willingness to enforce accountability.

He added that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had made substantial progress in the past year, securing 4,111 convictions—the most in the agency’s history—and recovering ₦364 billion, alongside $214.5 million and other foreign currencies. He also noted that the EFCC finalised the forfeiture of a 150,500-square-metre estate in Abuja containing 725 housing units, which had been handed over to the Ministry of Housing in May 2025.

In addressing allegations of democratic erosion, Dare said the claim that the administration was undermining democratic institutions and steering the country toward one-party rule lacked merit. He pointed to recent Supreme Court decisions that upheld opposition victories in states such as Kano, Plateau, and Abia as evidence of judicial independence.

He also rejected assertions that INEC had been compromised, stating that there was no evidence to support claims that electoral appointees were card-carrying members of the ruling party.

On security, the Presidency claimed that over 13,500 terrorists, bandits, and insurgents had been neutralised in the past year, with 7,000 more arrested. Dare said this had led to improved conditions in rural communities and allowed farmers to return to their fields, which was having a positive impact on food production and distribution.

Dare urged critics to offer constructive engagement rather than sweeping condemnation. He posed a direct challenge to opposition leaders, asking, “It is now pertinent to inquire from opposition leaders about alternative strategies they would propose in contrast to this administration’s extensive list of significant achievements currently benefiting Nigerians in real time.”

He said that while the administration was aware of current hardships, progress was being made and the government was committed to more empathetic and transparent governance moving forward.

He ended the statement with a note of optimism, asserting that the administration’s priorities remained focused on securing the nation, fixing the economy, and improving human capital development.

He said, “The opposition sees the cup as half empty. On the contrary, it’s half full. Under President Tinubu’s administration, some of Nigeria’s hydra-headed problems are being tackled headlong.

“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is turning the corner. From stabilising the naira and curbing inflation to reducing debt burdens and expanding access to education and health, the administration delivers bold reforms with actual results. With improved security, regional inclusion, anti-corruption measures, and institutional rebuilding, Nigeria’s comeback story is not yet complete, but it is firmly underway.”