Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has dismissed recent criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, arguing that the government should not be judged solely on claims of widespread hunger.
Atiku had alleged that nearly two years into Tinubu’s administration, there were still no visible signs that the president could tackle Nigeria’s poverty and food insecurity.
Responding during an interview on TVC’s FCT Brief on Wednesday, Bwala described Atiku’s assertions as misleading and politically motivated.
“The key question is whether Atiku has a valid point. The answer is no, because the available data suggests otherwise,” Bwala said.
He accused opposition politicians of deliberately attempting to tarnish the image of the government.
“What do you expect them to do? Their goal is to discredit the administration and create buzz around their criticisms,” he added.
Highlighting government achievements, Bwala pointed to growth in foreign reserves, increased net exports, and reduced dependency on imports as indicators of economic stability.
“For example, we have strengthened our foreign reserves. Our net export has gone up. We are less reliant on imports. These policies have helped to stabilise the economy,” he stated.
Bwala also cited social interventions, such as healthcare improvements and the student loan initiative, as evidence of tangible progress.
“He doesn’t mention that we have provided Caesarean section facilities across hospitals in Nigeria so people don’t have to suffer. He ignores the NELFUND initiative. If he’s being fair, he should at least admit whether these interventions are working or not,” Bwala argued.
According to him, hunger has always been a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s history and is not peculiar to the Tinubu administration.
“Nigerians were hungry in 1960, in 1980, in 1990, in 1999. Remember, between 1999 and 2003, someone sang ‘Nigeria Jaga Jaga’. Was that song in abstract?” he asked.
He stressed that while challenges remain, Tinubu’s policies should be evaluated on measurable progress, not opposition rhetoric.
“There has never been a time when Nigeria was without problems. But the real judgment should be on the metrics—on the structures we are putting in place and whether they are working—not on the mere rhetoric of ‘Nigerians are hungry,’” Bwala concluded.
