In a fiery rebuttal that’s set Nigeria’s streets and social media ablaze, the Presidency has declared Nigerians are better off today than at independence in 1960, slamming claims that poverty has deepened. This bold statement, hurled like a thunderbolt on Sunday, November 10, 2024, counters African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s grim assertion that Nigerians are poorer now than 65 years ago. As garri prices soar and fuel pumps bleed wallets dry, the Presidency’s upbeat narrative—backed by stats on phones, roads, and schools—has sparked a fierce debate: is Nigeria truly thriving, or is this a glossy spin on a bitter reality?
The clash began when Adesina, speaking at a public event, claimed Nigeria’s GDP per capita has nosedived from $1,847 in 1960 to $824 today, painting a dire picture of economic decline. The Presidency, through Senior Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, didn’t just disagree—it obliterated the claim, calling Adesina’s figures “not correct” and rooted in “inaccurate data.” Posting on his verified X handle, Onanuga revealed Nigeria’s 1960 GDP was a modest $4.2 billion, with a per capita income of just $93 for 44.9 million people—nowhere near Adesina’s numbers.
Onanuga didn’t stop at debunking. He rolled out a vivid case for progress: in 1960, Nigeria had a measly 18,724 phone lines for 45 million people. Today, over 200 million Nigerians wield mobile phones, surf the internet, and tap into digital services. Roads have multiplied, schools have sprouted, and hospitals have grown, he argued, proving life is better now. “We are not worse off,” Onanuga insisted, dismissing naysayers as blind to Nigeria’s strides.This claim lands as Nigerians grapple with a naira in freefall, 40% food inflation, and fuel prices that have skyrocketed from ₦580 to ₦1,300 per litre in months. Adesina’s stats, drawn from Nairametrics, echo the pain of market women and okada riders feeling crushed by President Bola Tinubu’s subsidy cuts. Yet, the Presidency’s rosy picture—evoking a Nigeria of opportunity—aims to douse the flames of protests like #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, which rocked cities in 2024.The timing is no coincidence. With Tinubu’s reforms under fire, Onanuga’s post doubles as a defense of the administration’s vision. He even threw in a jab, recalling how Vodacom doubted Nigeria’s mobile market in 1999, only to be proven wrong. But for every phone in a Nigerian’s hand, there’s a grumble about empty pots and rising school fees. Can roads and data bundles outweigh the sting of a shrinking naira? As this economic showdown unfolds, Nigerians are left wondering: are we really living better than our grandparents did in 1960, or is hope just a number game?
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