Tinubu’s Adviser Bayo Onanuga Says He Does Not See Hunger Nigerians Are Complaining About

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has sparked outrage after stating that he does not see the level of hunger Nigerians are complaining about, while citing his private staff as evidence that citizens are managing well under the current administration.

Speaking in a video clip shared by ARISE News, Onanuga said, “I don’t see the level of hunger Nigerians are complaining about. I have people working for me privately and I ask them questions about how they’re surviving and adjusting. This government has increased minimum wage by more than 100 percent.”

The comments have drawn sharp criticism from Nigerians already reeling under the weight of soaring food prices, fuel costs and general economic hardship. Many have accused the presidential aide of being out of touch with the reality facing millions of citizens who struggle daily to afford basic meals.

Nigerians point out that the 100 per cent minimum wage increase Onanuga referenced, from N30,000 to N70,000, was announced in July 2024 but has yet to be fully implemented across all states. Even where implemented, the increase has been eroded by inflation, which stood at over 30 per cent in early 2026, making the real value of the new minimum wage significantly less than its nominal amount.

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Civil society organisations and opposition figures have condemned the remarks as insensitive and dismissive of the genuine suffering of ordinary Nigerians. The comments come amid growing discontent over the cost of living crisis, with protests breaking out in several states in recent months over food prices and economic conditions.

Onanuga’s defence of the government’s record also ignores data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing that food inflation remains stubbornly high and that millions of Nigerians have been pushed into poverty since the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the exchange rate in 2023.

Many have questioned how a presidential adviser could claim not to see hunger in a country where the World Bank estimates that over 100 million people live below the poverty line and where food banks and palliative distribution centres have become a common sight in major cities.

The backlash reflects a widening gulf between the political class and ordinary citizens, with many Nigerians feeling that their leaders are increasingly disconnected from the harsh realities of daily life under President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.

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