“Nigerians Have Short Memories” – Tinubu’s Media Adviser Bayo Onanuga

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has said that many critics of the president suffer from what he described as a “short memory” problem, accusing them of forgetting the country’s dire state before Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Friday, Onanuga defended Tinubu’s controversial policies, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy on the president’s first day in office. He said Nigerians tend to overlook the existing crises at the time, including severe fuel shortages and supply disruptions.

“Many Nigerians exhibit a lack of memory,” Onanuga said. “They forget where we started from and just blame President Tinubu for all the problems in the country.”

He pointed out that before the 2023 general election, the country was already grappling with a major fuel crisis. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), then the sole importer of fuel, had significantly reduced imports because the federal government owed the company over N4 trillion in unpaid subsidy claims. As a result, fuel was in short supply, and long queues persisted nationwide.

Onanuga explained that the president’s decision to end the subsidy was followed by an immediate adjustment in fuel prices by the NNPCL, which could no longer afford to continue imports under the previous arrangement. Tinubu’s move, he said, was necessary to revive fuel supply and prevent further economic damage.

He also argued that the subsidy regime was unsustainable, describing it as a financial burden that deprived future generations of vital resources. “The resources were not there,” he said. “The government just had to do the right thing.”

While acknowledging the hardships triggered by the reforms, Onanuga emphasized that the Tinubu administration has implemented various measures to cushion the impact on Nigerians. He called on citizens to recognise the president’s efforts, particularly in addressing issues that previous administrations, including those under the PDP, left unresolved.

Citing reforms in the foreign exchange market, Onanuga praised Tinubu for ending arbitrage and pushing policies aimed at long-term national benefit. “Nigeria should give this president some credit,” he said. “What he has done is necessary, and we are already seeing the gains.”