Presidency Defends Tinubu's Economic Policies Against Atiku

The Presidency, through Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, rejected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's criticism of President Bola Tinubu's economic policies. In a statement released on Sunday, Onanuga argued that Atiku's assessment relied on outdated figures and failed to recognize the progress made since the introduction of economic reforms.

He stated that political disagreements are normal but should be based on current facts. Onanuga criticized Atiku for anchoring his economic arguments to developments from the 2024 fiscal year, asserting that the Nigerian economy has significantly recovered since then, with a current valuation of approximately $377 billion.

He defended Nigeria's debt levels, stating they are within acceptable limits, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of about 40 percent. Onanuga also noted a reduction in the debt service-to-revenue ratio from nearly 100 percent in December 2022 to below 60 percent under the Tinubu administration.