The Presidency of Nigeria has denied a report by The Economist that Nigerians dislike President Bola Tinubu. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, described the claim as "intellectual fraud" in a statement on October 7, 2026. The Economist's report, published on October 1, 2026, suggested that Tinubu could retain the presidency in the 2027 election despite public dissatisfaction.
The Economist identified incumbency, access to the ruling party's structures, opposition fragmentation, religion, and voter cynicism as factors that could influence the 2027 election outcome. However, the Presidency dismissed the assessment, accusing The Economist of presenting a distorted picture of Nigeria and the Tinubu administration.
According to Sunday Dare, the administration inherited a severely weakened economy in May 2023, burdened by fuel subsidy, multiple foreign exchange windows, high debt-service obligations, and underinvestment in critical infrastructure. The administration had to take difficult decisions to address these problems rather than postpone them, resulting in some hardship as part of the transition to correct longstanding economic distortions.
The Presidency highlighted the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange market reform as major measures undertaken by the administration. These moves saved the federation trillions of naira, allowed resources to be redirected towards productive investment and fiscal sustainability, and contributed to increased foreign portfolio investments, trade surpluses, and improved external reserves.
The government also cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an achievement, enabling hundreds of thousands of indigent students to pursue higher education without tuition fees. Other measures introduced by the administration include local government autonomy, an increased national minimum wage, and the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas buses to ease economic pressure on Nigerians.
The government further cited agricultural interventions, including fertiliser distribution, agro-loans, and the provision of tractors and farming equipment, aimed at improving food production and strengthening rural economies. Sunday Dare argued that the administration's beneficiaries had a different experience of the government and rejected the suggestion that Nigerians were broadly hostile to Tinubu.
Sunday Dare maintained that Tinubu's policies had placed Nigeria on an "irreversible path" towards sustainable growth, fiscal independence, and long-term prosperity. He acknowledged that Nigeria faced economic, political, and security challenges but argued that these difficulties should not be used to reduce the country's complex situation to a narrative of widespread despair or inevitable rejection of the President.
Key points
- The Presidency rejects The Economist's report claiming Nigerians dislike President Bola Tinubu.
- The administration cites its achievements, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and economic reforms.
- The government maintains that Tinubu's policies have placed Nigeria on a path towards sustainable growth and prosperity.
