The Nigerian Presidency has faulted a recent statement by a faction of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, describing its assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s two-year performance as misleading and politically motivated.
Afenifere had accused the Tinubu administration of worsening human development, mismanaging the economy, and reversing democratic gains. In a response on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Mr. Sunday Dare, dismissed the claims as unfair and influenced by opposition politics.
Dare said the criticism ignored major gains made under Tinubu’s *Renewed Hope Agenda*, adding that the administration inherited deeply-rooted structural challenges and has responded with tough but necessary reforms.
He highlighted key economic achievements, including a reduction in the fiscal deficit from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024, improved revenue generation, and a slight drop in headline inflation from 24.23% in March to 23.71% in April 2025. Food inflation, he noted, also moderated from 21.79% to 21.26% within the same period.
Dare defended the removal of fuel and electricity subsidies and the floating of the naira, stressing that these steps saved the government over \$10 billion in 2023. He added that the reforms have led to a ₦18.86 trillion trade surplus and more stable foreign exchange markets.
The presidency also pointed to several social programmes meant to cushion the impact of the reforms, including cash transfers to over 5.7 million households, ₦75 billion in palliative funds distributed to states and local governments, and the ongoing construction of more than 20,000 affordable housing units.
However, Afenifere remains critical of the government. In a communiqué issued in August 2024, the group raised alarm over growing hardship, hunger, rising insecurity, inflation, and unemployment. It accused the Tinubu administration of failing to prioritize the welfare of citizens and mismanaging public resources.
The group also condemned what it called extravagant spending, citing the reported purchase of a \$100 million Airbus A330 jet and ₦950 million worth of armored vehicles, at a time many Nigerians are struggling to meet basic needs.
The back-and-forth between the presidency and Afenifere highlights the widening political fault lines ahead of the 2027 general elections. While the government insists its reforms are beginning to yield results, many Nigerians say they are yet to feel the benefits in their daily lives.
