Daniel Bwala, presidential spokesperson, has said that Nigerians claiming President Bola Tinubu has no tangible achievements since assuming office are “either blind, deaf and dumb.”

Mr Bwala, in an interview with TVC on Monday night, said the Tinubu-led government has increased Nigeria’s foreign reserves despite paying off a huge debt inherited from his predecessor.

“Those who say there are no achievements, it is either they are blind, deaf or dumb, but I’ll help them today,” said Mr Bwala when asked to respond to criticisms that Mr Tinubu has no achievement since he assumed office about two years ago.

He added, “Look at our foreign reserve. You can see how we are having increase. We are increasing the foreign reserve, while we are paying the debt on our neck.”

Mr Bwala argued that another achievement of Mr Tinubu’s government is the increased monthly allocation to states, adding that 27 states were bankrupt and could not pay salaries before Mr Tinubu assumed office.

“When the president took oath of office, 27 states of the federation were reported to have gone bankrupt, meaning they could not pay salaries. They virtually could not do anything at all. Today, there is no state that is bankrupt or incapable of paying salaries,” Mr Bwala said. “Rather, state governors have gone beyond that to deliver on good governance and projects.”

He added, “Few days ago, we were in Katsina, the governor reaffirmed this same view thay before now governors didn’t have enough to pay salaries. Even in PDP states, Enugu and even Abia, they acknowledged that the policies of the president have increased their allocations so that they can now deliver on good governance to their people. Fundamentally, that is achievement number one.”

The presidential spokesperson also cited the student loan policy as another achievement of the Tinubu-led government, saying, “Look at the NELFUND, now the son of indigent, who has dreams, can now have access to funds to fund their education.”

Mr Bwala said, “These are few of many achievements of Mr President, when they blow the whistle and say let’s go to campaign, we will bring them to the table. They are ascertainable, relatable and touchable.”

Mr Bwala’s claim comes barely two weeks after the International Monetary Fund reported that poverty and food insecurity remain high under Mr Tinubu’s watch.

Similarly, the World Bank’s Africa Pulse report of April 2025 stated that Nigeria, under Mr Tinubu, has the highest number of extremely poor people globally. 

The report also predicted a grim future for Nigeria, warning that many more Nigerians will be plunged into poverty by 2027 under Mr Tinubu’s watch.