In a statement on Friday, August 8, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, criticised a recent editorial titled “Nigeria is Collapsing under Tinubu’s Watch” for misrepresenting the nation’s economic situation and fuelling public anxiety.
While acknowledging ongoing economic challenges, Dare said the situation is not as dire as portrayed. He clarified that the widely reported figure of 33 million Nigerians being at risk of hunger is a projection from the Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis — not a confirmed reality.
“Criticism is welcome, but it must be rooted in truth, not fear-mongering,” he stated.
Dare accused the editorial of ignoring government measures to ease hardship, citing interventions such as the release of grain from national reserves, agricultural support programmes, and targeted cash transfers.
He also pointed to what he described as positive indicators from ongoing reforms, including a more stable naira-dollar exchange rate and planned tax and social policy adjustments expected to deliver stronger results by 2026.
