The Presidency has dismissed concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) over their claims on economic hardship, insecurity, and governance issues, insisting that Nigeria has recorded “tremendous progress” under President Bola Tinubu.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, stated this in a statement made available to TheIdeal News on Monday.
Onanuga also faulted the claims of the Catholic Bishops, saying that their assessment was outdated on the grounds that it failed to acknowledge improvements in security, the economy, and governance.
Onanuga said, “The Catholic Bishops’ Conference, at its first plenary meeting of 2025 in Abuja over the weekend, gave an alarming prognosis of the state of the economy and governance, sounding more like excerpts from an outdated book.
Acknowledging existing governance challenges, Onanuga maintained that security had improved significantly, citing the military’s successes against criminals.
He said, “In the last two years, over 8,000 criminals—including bandits, armed robbers, Boko Haram terrorists, and kidnappers—have been eliminated. Additionally, more than 10,000 Nigerians, mostly women and children, have been rescued from their abductors. As a result, many farmers have returned to their farms, boosting food production and driving down prices of essential commodities.”
Onanuga further argued that Tinubu’s administration had made significant economic strides, stabilizing key sectors and strengthening foreign reserves.
He said, “Our balance of trade has improved, foreign reserves are in a stronger position, inflation has moderated, and the naira is regaining strength against major currencies.
“Additionally, local refining capacity has increased with the operationalization of the Dangote Refinery and the NNPCL refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri.”
The presidential spokesman also highlighted several youth-focused initiatives aimed at fostering employment and entrepreneurship.
He said, “Recognizing the crucial role of youths in national development, President Tinubu’s administration has introduced programmes such as 3MTT, NATEP, LEEP, IDiCE, NiYA, and the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund. These initiatives are designed to create over 10 million jobs for young Nigerians.
Onanuga also referenced global recognition of the administration’s economic policies, citing a recent report by Chatham House.
He said, “Last week, Chatham House, a United Kingdom-based policy think tank, praised President Tinubu’s economic management team. In its analysis, the institution described Nigeria’s economy as the most competitive it has been in 25 years due to Tinubu’s reforms.”
Onanuga further assured Nigerians that the federal government remains committed to addressing the country’s challenges and urged patience as ongoing reforms take effect.
He said, “While we acknowledge that many Nigerians still face difficulties, we remain confident that the government is making the right decisions for a stronger and more prosperous nation.
“President Tinubu and his team are working tirelessly to deliver on their promises,” Onanuga added.
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