RismadarVoice Reporters
October 7, 2026
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has acknowledged that the administration’s economic reforms pushed more Nigerians into poverty, while maintaining that the measures have also produced progress.
Bwala made the admission on Wednesday while defending the administration’s economic policies and responding to criticism of President Tinubu’s performance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He said the hardship experienced by many Nigerians was partly a consequence of major economic reforms undertaken by the government, arguing that such structural changes typically come with significant short-term difficulties.
“More people went down to poverty, acknowledged,” Bwala said, while insisting that the country had recorded progress since the reforms began.
The Tinubu administration has implemented major economic changes since taking office in 2023, including the removal of petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system.
Those measures contributed to increases in transportation, production and household costs, although the government has consistently argued that they were necessary to address longstanding economic distortions and improve public finances.
Bwala said the government recognised that a significant proportion of Nigerians remained poor but maintained that improvements had been recorded since the reforms were introduced.
His comments came amid renewed debate over an October 1 assessment by The Economist, which argued that Tinubu could remain electorally competitive in 2027 despite public dissatisfaction over economic hardship and insecurity.
Bwala disputed aspects of the publication’s assessment, arguing that it did not adequately account for Nigerians who had benefited from government interventions.
He pointed to programmes in education, agriculture and support for businesses as examples of measures the administration believes are cushioning the effects of its reforms.
The Presidency has separately rejected the suggestion that dissatisfaction with Tinubu represents the view of Nigerians generally, while continuing to defend the administration’s economic record.
Bwala maintained that the immediate hardship associated with the reforms should be considered alongside what the government describes as improvements in economic stability and other indicators.
With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the impact of the administration’s economic policies and the cost of living are expected to remain prominent issues in political debate.
