In a wide-ranging interview, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has mounted a robust defense of the administration’s performance in its inaugural year while dismissing talks of the 2027 elections as premature and “irresponsible.”
Addressing concerns over the economic challenges triggered by the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, Onanuga argued that these policies, though painful, were necessary to reset the economy on a sustainable path. He pointed to GDP growth figures and the administration’s efforts to mitigate the impact through various palliative measures as evidence of the government’s responsiveness.
“The bigger picture is that many things have been done. There are many achievements being recorded,” Onanuga asserted, urging Nigerians to appreciate the complexities of economic policymaking and the need for reforms, even if they bring short-term discomfort.
On the security front, the adviser maintained that the situation has improved compared to what the Tinubu administration inherited, citing figures from the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Defence. He commended the efforts of security forces in responding to threats and eliminating terrorist kingpins, albeit acknowledging isolated incidents in some areas.
Onanuga also defended the size of the federal cabinet, arguing that the creation of new ministries and the appointment of additional ministers were aimed at enabling focused attention on key sectors and delivering on the government’s eight-point agenda.
Responding to criticisms of the perceived high cost of governance, the adviser acknowledged it as a “work in progress,” pointing to measures like limiting official travels and the implementation of some Oronsaye Panel recommendations on streamlining bureaucracy.
However, Onanuga dismissed suggestions that the Tinubu administration should probe or prosecute former President Muhammadu Buhari over allegations of laying the foundation for the current economic challenges. Instead, he praised Buhari’s infrastructure achievements, including the completion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Apapa Port projects, urging Nigerians to be more charitable in their assessments.
On the contentious issue of the N90 billion allocation for sponsoring pilgrims to Mecca, Onanuga defended the decision as part of the government’s mandate to cater to the welfare of its citizens, drawing a parallel with similar support extended to Christian pilgrims.
Turning to the 2027 elections, Onanuga dismissed talks of opposition figures ganging up against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as “irresponsible.” He insisted that the Tinubu administration is focused solely on governance and implementing its mandate, not electoral calculations.
“This government is not talking about 2027. It’s only the opposition who are already ganging up and talking about 2027. I believe that it’s irresponsible on their part,” Onanuga stated emphatically.
As for criticisms from opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi regarding key infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Superhighway, Onanuga dismissed them as “petty politics” and “jealousy,” arguing that such initiatives would boost economic growth and connectivity.
While acknowledging the administration’s first year as a “mixed bag” with unintended consequences, Onanuga projected optimism for the future, hinting at an impending flurry of activity in housing, road, and rail projects backed by the newly established Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.
“We have been taking baby steps in the last one year. We are going to go on the canter in the next 12 months,” he declared, urging Nigerians to exercise patience and understanding as the government sets the stage for a prosperous future.
