Nigerians have short memory – Onanuga Defends Tinubu

Bayo Onanuga 

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has claimed that many Nigerians blame the current administration for the country’s economic woes because they have a "short memory," forgetting the dire situation before Tinubu took office.  

Speaking in an Arise TV interview on Friday, Onanuga argued that Nigerians often overlook past struggles and unfairly criticize the President for ongoing challenges.  

  

Onanuga recalled that Nigeria was already grappling with severe fuel shortages when Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. Long queues and supply gaps plagued the country for months before the elections.  

At the time, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) was the sole fuel importer but had slashed imports due to over ₦4 trillion in unpaid subsidy debts by the previous government. This also left NNPC unable to pay foreign suppliers.  

Faced with this crisis, Tinubu scrapped the fuel subsidy on his first day in office a move that triggered an immediate price hike but also pushed NNPC to resume fuel imports, stabilizing supply.  

"People forget that before Tinubu, fuel scarcity was rampant. The subsidy removal was necessary because Nigeria could no longer afford it—we were borrowing from future generations," Onanuga stated.  

Despite initial hardships, Onanuga insisted the administration has been transparent and proactive in implementing relief measures. He highlighted the President’s success in ending the forex arbitrage that plagued past governments, including PDP administrations.  

"Nigerians should credit Tinubu for tackling long-ignored issues like forex manipulation. The reforms are tough but necessary, and the benefits are already emerging," he added.  

While critics remain skeptical, Onanuga urged patience, assuring that Tinubu’s policies will ultimately strengthen Nigeria’s economy.