ABUJA — The Nigerian presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s administration against a recent critique from The Economist. Special Adviser for Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, called the publication’s assessment a distorted view of Nigeria’s political and economic situation.
Dare made these comments in a statement on his X platform, titled, “Beyond the Economist Condescension: Nigeria’s Re-engineering Under Tinubu Is Unstoppable.” He challenged the magazine’s claim that Nigerians dislike Tinubu, arguing that it contradicts the ongoing economic reforms under his leadership.
According to Dare, foreign publications often view Nigeria through a flawed lens, focusing on the country’s challenges without acknowledging the difficult conditions inherited by Tinubu when he took office in May 2023. He pointed out that the administration faced significant economic issues, including a troubled fuel subsidy system, multiple foreign exchange rates, and high debt levels.
Dare emphasized that solving these deep-rooted problems would not happen without some difficulties. He stated, “To suggest that these structural cancers could be excised overnight without transitional pain is economically illiterate.”
He highlighted the tough decisions made by the Tinubu administration, such as removing the fuel subsidy and reforming the foreign exchange market. These actions, he argued, have allowed more resources to be allocated to infrastructure and development. He also noted that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has helped many students pursue higher education without upfront tuition costs.
Dare urged critics to evaluate the reforms based on the conditions that existed prior to their implementation, rather than just the immediate hardships they may cause. He insisted that Nigeria is undergoing significant changes under Tinubu and that the reform process is on track, despite criticism from various commentators.
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