Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has stated that the Tinubu administration is working diligently to strengthen Nigeria's economy. Onanuga made this statement in Abuja, responding to accusations by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the administration was trying to establish a one-party state.
According to Onanuga, unlike the PDP's 16-year administration, the Tinubu-led government is directly addressing the country's challenges. He emphasized that the administration is striving for a significant reset that will firmly establish Nigeria on a stable economic footing. Onanuga pointed out that this approach has already yielded positive results, citing the national currency's significant appreciation against the dollar in recent weeks.
Onanuga highlighted the positive impact of the APC's economic program, noting that the IMF has revised Nigeria's growth projection for 2024 upward from 2.9 percent to 3.3 percent. He also mentioned the administration's ambitious infrastructure plans, such as the Badagry-Sokoto Highway and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, aimed at further stimulating economic growth.
Regarding security, Onanuga refuted the PDP's claims of increasing terrorism and banditry under the Tinubu administration. He stated that security has actually improved, with fewer terrorist attacks and banditry incidents recorded. Onanuga praised the country's armed forces for rescuing over a thousand kidnapped victims in recent weeks without the government paying ransom.
Onanuga advised the PDP to focus on resolving internal issues rather than accusing Tinubu of attempting to establish a one-party state, emphasizing that the president has no such intention.
