By Onoja Baba, Nigeria
The Presidency has fired back at a faction of the Afenifere socio-political group over its recent statement criticizing the performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration at midterm.
The presidency described the remarks as deceitful and rooted in partisan bias.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, dismissed the group’s claims as “a deliberate attempt to trade in deceit rather than offer objective critique.”
The factional Afenifere had accused the Tinubu administration of presiding over economic decline, democratic erosion, and worsening human development.
But the Presidency insists such views reflect the position of opposition politicians whom the group supported during the 2023 general election.
Contrary to the claims, Dare highlighted significant gains made by the government under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
These include the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, reforms that reportedly saved the country over \$10 billion and led to a ₦18.86 trillion trade surplus.
The statement also pointed to declining inflation rates, increasing access to social safety nets such as the conditional cash transfer programme, and the administration’s efforts to alleviate hardship through intervention schemes.
Over 900,000 beneficiaries have been recorded under the Presidential Loan and Grant Scheme, while over 600,000 students are currently benefiting from the new Student Loan Scheme.
On fiscal responsibility, the government notes that Nigeria’s fiscal deficit has dropped significantly, and the debt service-to-revenue ratio has improved.
The statement acknowledged that the Oronsaye Report was not fully implemented but maintained that fiscal discipline and cost-saving measures were already yielding results.
Dare also countered allegations of corruption and elite favoritism, noting the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s record-breaking 4,111 convictions in 2024.
He said asset recoveries and prosecutions are ongoing, with due process being followed.
Addressing security concerns, the statement emphasized that over 13,500 insurgents and criminals had been neutralised while 7,000 others were arrested.
This, it said, has enabled displaced farmers to return to their lands, enhancing food production.
The administration further cited achievements in the digital economy, healthcare revitalisation, youth empowerment, and education as evidence of national progress.
It also defended Nigeria’s democratic institutions, pointing to Supreme Court rulings that upheld opposition victories as proof of judicial independence.
The Presidency argued that while challenges persist, the Tinubu administration is steadily reversing Nigeria’s downward slide and laying the foundation for long-term growth.
It urged Nigerians to join hands with the government to combat misinformation and work toward national recovery.
“Nigeria’s comeback story is not yet complete but it is firmly underway under President Tinubu’s bold and reform-driven leadership,” the statement concluded.
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