The Presidency has defended the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, insisting that poor Nigerians are the primary beneficiaries of the government’s reforms and intervention programmes.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Daniel Bwala, made the assertion on Tuesday during an interview on Prime Time, a program on Arise Television.
Bwala said several initiatives introduced by the Federal Government since President Tinubu assumed office have been designed to support ordinary Nigerians, especially low-income families struggling with economic challenges.
His comments come amid continued public debate over the impact of the administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange rates, which have contributed to rising living costs across the country.
While critics argue that many Nigerians are facing increasing hardship due to inflation and high transportation costs, government officials maintain that the reforms are necessary to stabilize the economy and create long-term benefits.
Speaking during the interview, Bwala pointed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the major programmes helping poor Nigerians.
According to him, more than one million students have benefited from the scheme, which provides financial support to students in tertiary institutions across the country.
He argued that the programme mainly serves students from less privileged backgrounds who might otherwise struggle to fund their education.
“We talk about over one million beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND. These are not children of the rich. These are children of the poor who, without the intervention, may not be able to achieve their dream. That is direct impact on the poor person,” Bwala said.
The student loan scheme was introduced by the Tinubu administration to improve access to higher education and reduce the financial burden on families.
Under the program eligible students can obtain loans to cover tuition and other educational expenses, with repayment expected after graduation and employment.
The government has repeatedly described the initiative as a major step toward expanding educational opportunities for young Nigerians.
Beyond education, Bwala also highlighted the administration’s investments in compressed natural gas (CNG) transportation as another intervention aimed at easing the burden on citizens.
The Federal Government has promoted the use of CNG-powered vehicles as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs following the removal of petrol subsidy.
Since the subsidy was removed in May 2023, fuel prices have risen significantly, leading to higher transport fares and increased costs of goods and services nationwide.
To cushion the impact, the government launched programs encouraging the conversion of vehicles from petrol to CNG, which is considered cheaper and more affordable.
According to Bwala, feedback from ordinary Nigerians suggests that the initiative is already making a difference.
“When we talk about transportation, what the CNG initiative has done, you need to go to the streets and see for yourself. We went to the streets and talked to people and all they are asking is that they need more investments in that field,” he said.
The presidential aide also pointed to healthcare interventions introduced by the government as evidence that the administration is prioritizing the welfare of poor citizens.
He mentioned support for patients requiring dialysis treatment and assistance for women undergoing caesarean section procedures.
According to him, such programs are targeted at vulnerable Nigerians who may not have the financial means to access expensive medical services.
“When we talk about healthcare, and we talk about the caesarean section, I was here the other time, and I talked about 50 per cent subsidy on dialysis. These are poor people, because the rich people don’t need that,” he stated.
Bwala further argued that many wealthy Nigerians have access to medical treatment abroad and are therefore less dependent on government-supported healthcare programs.
“As a matter of fact, most of the rich are abroad. So every policy introduced by this government, the direct beneficiaries are the poor,” he added.
The remarks come at a time when the Federal Government continues to defend its economic policies amid criticism from opposition parties, labour unions and civil society groups.
Since taking office in May 2023, President Tinubu has embarked on a series of reforms aimed at restructuring the economy, increasing government revenue and attracting investment.
Supporters of the administration argue that the reforms are necessary to address long-standing economic problems and place the country on a stronger financial footing.
However, many Nigerians continue to express concern over the rising cost of living, inflation, food prices and transportation expenses.
The government has responded by introducing various social intervention programmes, including student loans, conditional cash transfers, healthcare support and transportation initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of economic hardship on vulnerable groups.
Officials have repeatedly insisted that while the reforms may bring short-term difficulties, they are expected to produce long-term economic benefits.
Nevertheless, the Presidency maintains that its policies are beginning to produce positive results and that ordinary Nigerians are already benefiting from key intervention programs.
As debates over the state of the economy continue, the administration is expected to keep highlighting programs such as NELFUND, healthcare subsidies and CNG transportation initiatives as evidence of its commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly those in lower-income communities.