The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has said he does not share the view that the level of hunger frequently highlighted by critics reflects the reality across Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Onanuga argued that several policies introduced by the Tinubu administration have delivered tangible benefits to citizens, particularly in infrastructure, education and access to credit.

According to him, recent road projects have improved transportation and reduced travel time for many Nigerians.

Recounting a recent trip from Ibadan to Lagos, Onanuga said he was impressed by a newly constructed concrete road along the Ijebu-Ode route.

“One day I was traveling from Ibadan to Lagos, and Google Maps told me that there’s a go-slow in the approach to Lagos, and I decided to take Ijebu-Ode via Shagamu. What struck me most was that I just found myself on a paved road, concrete road. I said, ‘Wow, when was this one built?'” he said.

He added that the road had changed public perception in the area.

“I found that our people, I mean, our Ijebu people, have stopped complaining. I said, ‘Oh, no wonder they now have a brand new road that’s not just an asphalt road, a concrete road.'”

The presidential aide also cited the impact of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, saying it has reduced travel time for residents.

“I live in Ajah. Anytime I go to Lagos, and I ask Google Maps to tell me how soon I will get home, Google Maps will tell me one hour, seven minutes. Before, it was two hours, 30 minutes, and the reason for that is that we now have a coastal road that has shortened my travel time,” he said.

“Is that not beneficial? What are people talking about really?”

Onanuga further pointed to the Federal Government’s student loan programme and low-interest credit facilities for civil servants as examples of policies improving the welfare of Nigerians.

“If you are a parent and you have four children in university, and they’re able to access federal loan, which is interest free, are they not benefiting?” he asked.

“If you are a civil servant and you can access the credit card, very cheap loan at below interest, it is about seven per cent. Now people can access that loan at single digit. Are they not benefiting as well?”

He argued that public discussions often overlook positive developments and focus mainly on negative narratives.

Referring to a viral video from the early days of the Tinubu administration, Onanuga recalled how a clip of the President returning from a mosque in Lagos was accompanied by a voice-over suggesting widespread hunger.

“I think the President went to Lagos, he was coming from the Central Mosque, and somebody now did a voice-over saying ‘Ebi n pawa o,’ and that means we are hungry. Since then, people have been saying that,” he said.

While acknowledging that economic challenges exist, Onanuga maintained that his personal interactions do not reflect the scale of hardship often portrayed in public discourse.

“I’m a Nigerian. I have people working for me privately. I don’t see the level of hunger people are talking about because I see them, and I keep asking them questions: how are things, how are they adjusting, what are the problems?” he said.