The Presidency has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s warning that rising hunger in Nigeria could spark unrest similar to the French and Russian revolutions, describing his comments as “cheap talk” and disconnected from reality.
In a statement issued Monday evening, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Atiku’s remarks ignored recent economic gains under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Atiku’s Warning
Atiku, who contested against Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, cautioned that Nigeria’s worsening hunger crisis could trigger mass anger reminiscent of the 1789 French Revolution or the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.
Presidency’s Response
Countering the claim, the Presidency pointed to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), highlighting that:
Headline inflation has declined for five consecutive months.
Nigeria recorded a historic trade surplus, with non-oil exports nearly matching crude oil at a 48:52 ratio.
Foreign reserves have risen to nearly $42bn, up from $32bn when Tinubu assumed office, even after settling over $7bn in arrears, including $800m owed to foreign airlines.
“Under President Tinubu, Nigeria is recording unprecedented revenues. States are now able to pay salaries and gratuities promptly, while still funding capital and social projects — an achievement not seen at this scale before,” the statement read.
The Presidency further accused Atiku and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of clinging to “doomsday rhetoric” while ignoring the gains from Tinubu’s reforms.
Blame on PDP Era
According to Onanuga, many of the challenges Nigeria currently faces stem from the PDP era, when Atiku served as Vice President.
“President Tinubu and his team are working relentlessly to correct those errors, with bold reforms,” he stated.
Ongoing Reforms
Since assuming office, Tinubu has implemented sweeping reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification. Officials argue these policies are stabilising state finances and attracting investment, though critics maintain they have worsened hardship, with food inflation still biting hard.
Despite the criticisms, the Presidency insists Nigeria is “moving in the right direction,” noting that citizens can already “see and feel” progress under Tinubu’s leadership.
