Presidency debunks Afenifere ‘nightmare’ claims, cites progress under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda

By Kunle Sanni

The Presidency has criticised comments by a faction of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, which accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of turning its “Renewed Hope” mantra into a national nightmare.

In a statement released by Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Justice Faloye, Afenifere had claimed that the President’s midterm scorecard reflected widespread regression across all human development and socio-political indices. The group also alleged that the administration had resorted to “massive propaganda claiming false successes.”

Responding on Tuesday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, dismissed the statement as “deceitful” and “jaundiced,” asserting that the group was peddling opposition narratives while ignoring real achievements on the ground.

“Afenifere’s claims echo opposition rhetoric and fail to recognise the extensive reforms and achievements recorded by this administration,” Dare said. “A balanced assessment based on available data reveals a more objective and progressive picture, with significant gains amid the challenges inherited from decades of systemic issues.”

According to Dare, economic reforms such as the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of exchange rates saved the government over $10 billion in 2023 and increased Nigeria’s foreign reserves to $38.1 billion by early 2024. He noted that inflation is beginning to stabilise, with April 2025 data showing a decline to 23.71% from 24.23% in March.

To ease the impact of the reforms, Dare said the government’s cash transfer programme now reaches over 5.7 million vulnerable households. He also highlighted several milestones in social and economic development:

Over 900,000 Nigerians have accessed the Presidential Loan and Grant Scheme, providing vital financial support. Additionally, more than 600,000 students have benefited from the newly introduced Student Loan Scheme, which aims to ease their financial burdens. In a significant move to support the nation’s youth, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) stipends were raised from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000.

Furthermore, thousands of commercial drivers have received free Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) kits, helping to reduce transport costs. The federal government has also made progress in clearing over $10 billion in foreign exchange debts. Notably, state allocations from the Federation Account increased by 60%, enhancing grassroots development across the country.

In addition, the administration released ₦50 billion to address the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. Efforts to improve healthcare have also been prioritised, with over 1,000 primary health care centres revitalised and ongoing upgrades planned for an additional 5,500 facilities.