Presidency Refutes Claims of National Collapse, Urges Fact-Based Criticism

The Presidency has strongly rejected recent claims suggesting that Nigeria is on the verge of collapse, calling such narratives exaggerated and lacking factual basis.

In a statement released on Thursday, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, criticized a recent editorial titled “Nigeria is Collapsing under Tinubu’s Watch,” stating that it misrepresented the country’s economic reality and unnecessarily heightened public anxiety. While he acknowledged that the nation is experiencing economic difficulties, Dare insisted the situation is not as bleak as depicted by critics. He clarified that the figure claiming 33 million Nigerians are at risk of hunger stems from projections by the Cadre Harmonisé, a regional tool for forecasting food insecurity—not confirmed data.

“Constructive criticism is vital, but it must be anchored in truth, not sensationalism,” Dare emphasized. He went on to accuse the editorial of promoting “alarmist journalism” and ignoring the federal government’s ongoing efforts to mitigate hardship and stabilize the economy.

Highlighting steps taken so far, Dare mentioned government interventions such as the release of food from national reserves, agricultural support programmes, and targeted cash transfer schemes. He also noted positive trends in the naira-to-dollar exchange rate and the implementation of tax and social policy reforms, which are expected to show broader impact by 2026.