The Nigerian presidency has firmly rejected claims that the country is on the brink of collapse and that 33 million citizens are at risk of hunger, describing the assertions as exaggerated and not backed by facts.
The response, delivered by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, was a direct rebuttal to a recent editorial from Daily Trust titled “Nigeria is Collapsing under Tinubu’s Watch.” In a statement released Thursday, Dare criticized the publication for fueling public despair and misrepresenting the nation’s true condition.
While acknowledging the country’s economic challenges, the presidential aide insisted the situation is not as dire as some reports suggest. Dare pointed out that the figure of 33 million Nigerians at risk of hunger is a “projection, not a confirmed reality,” taken from the Cadre Harmonisé report, a regional tool used to forecast potential food insecurity.
Dare further countered the editorial by highlighting several government interventions designed to ease hardship and restore stability. These include the release of food from national reserves, the implementation of agricultural programs, and ongoing cash transfer initiatives. He also noted that there have been improvements in the economy, with the naira gaining against the dollar, and stated that tax reforms and social programs are expected to gain more traction in 2026.
Concluding his statement, Dare said, “Criticism is welcome, but it must be rooted in truth not fear-mongering.”
