President Bola Tinubu’s reforms may be causing economic hardship in the short term, but their benefits will become more visible with time, according to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In an interview, Onanuga defended the administration’s economic policies, arguing that the government had to make difficult decisions to prevent the country from sliding into deeper financial trouble.
He said Nigerians should focus on the long-term benefits of the reforms while acknowledging the hardship they have created.
“There’s no way you can carry out any reform without its attendant pains,” Onanuga said.
According to him, Tinubu inherited an economy facing serious financial challenges, including an unsustainable fuel subsidy system, problems with foreign exchange, difficulties in the oil sector and a weak revenue base.
He recalled that the country was struggling to meet several financial obligations when Tinubu assumed office in 2023, arguing that urgent action was necessary to prevent a possible financial crisis.
Onanuga said the situation has since improved, pointing to Nigeria’s foreign reserves, exchange-rate stability, trade surpluses and increased investor interest.
He also highlighted the rise in the Nigerian stock market, saying the All-Share Index has increased significantly since Tinubu took office.
Onanuga Defends APC’s 2027 Chances
On the possibility of the reforms affecting the APC’s chances in the 2027 election, Onanuga said voters would ultimately compare the difficulties with what he described as the gains of the administration’s policies.
“People will look at the balance sheet and compare the bright sides with the temporary pains,” he said.
He argued that opposition figures had not presented Nigerians with clear alternative economic programmes.
Onanuga specifically criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, saying they had yet to offer convincing alternatives to the Tinubu administration’s economic policies.
States Becoming Development Centres
Onanuga also defended the administration’s handling of revenue allocation to states, saying increased resources had allowed many state governments to move beyond simply paying salaries.
According to him, states are now investing in roads, hospitals, factories and other development projects.
“At the subnational level, states are no longer salary-paying centres; they are becoming development centres,” he said.
He added that further strengthening fiscal federalism could encourage states to undertake more development projects and create jobs.
Why Tinubu Retained Shettima
Onanuga also explained President Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for 2027 despite calls in some quarters for a Muslim-Christian ticket.
He said Shettima was not selected because of his religion but because of his competence and contribution to the administration.
“Shettima is not being picked as a Muslim; he’s being picked as a Nigerian who has a lot to offer,” Onanuga said.
He dismissed previous fears about the alleged Islamisation of Nigeria, arguing that Nigerians remain free to practise their respective religions.
State Police Could Become Reality Before 2027
On the proposed creation of state police, Onanuga said the policy could be implemented before the end of Tinubu’s first term if the necessary constitutional processes are completed.
He argued that state police could help address insecurity because governors currently have limited direct control over security personnel in their states.
Onanuga also highlighted the potential employment benefits, saying that if each state recruited about 10,000 personnel, hundreds of thousands of jobs could be created.
“We can’t solve the problem of insecurity if we don’t have the states commanding some forces of their own,” he said.
He rejected suggestions that the proposed state police initiative was connected to the 2027 election, insisting that improving national security should be the priority.
FG Says Local Government Autonomy Will Be Implemented
On local government financial autonomy, Onanuga acknowledged that implementation had been slow but said the government remained committed to giving effect to the Supreme Court judgment backing autonomy for local councils.
He said more states were beginning to understand the importance of empowering local governments, particularly because of the number of areas across the country that remain poorly governed.
On whether there was a timeframe for full implementation, however, Onanuga said he could not provide one.
He also addressed concerns about governors spending significant time in Abuja instead of their states, saying the responsibility ultimately lies with citizens to demand accountability from their governors.
“If their governor is spending more time in Abuja than in the state, they should call him out,” he advised.
Source: Interview with Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy.
