Presidential aide Daniel Bwala has admitted that the economic reforms have pushed more Nigerians into poverty.
Speaking on social media this week, he said the pain is real but the government has made good progress since the reforms started in 2023.
The reforms removed the petrol subsidy and merged the forex market.
Since then, it has become more expensive to move goods, run a business and feed a family, and many households and companies are feeling the squeeze.
Bwala said the early months were hard for many people.
He said every serious reform in the world brings some discomfort, and that the government has spent three years explaining what it is doing and why.
Question:
Seun Okinbaloye: “Have you reckoned the issue of hunger? Have you reckoned with the fact that more people have now been dragged into poverty in the last three years than they’ve been in the last ten years…?.”
Answer: Daniel Bwala: “Yes, I reckon with the fact that these two things you said [hunger and poverty] are the popular catchphrase of the opposition, which is mirrored by those in the media.”
[Daniel Bwala is the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Policy Communications.]
He also predicted that Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election by a much bigger margin than in 2023.
He said part of his confidence comes from governors who won on opposition tickets and have since joined the APC.
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