Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has acknowledged that the Federal Government’s economic reforms pushed more Nigerians into poverty, while defending the administration’s policies as necessary measures that have since produced “marked progress.”
Bwala made the admission during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he also dismissed African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi’s claim that Tinubu’s economic policies contributed to the death of his mother.
Key Highlights
- Daniel Bwala admitted that more Nigerians fell into poverty following Tinubu’s economic reforms.
- He said the hardship was an expected consequence of implementing major reforms.
- The reforms included petrol subsidy removal and foreign-exchange market unification.
- Bwala defended the government’s record, citing NELFUND, road projects and other initiatives.
- He rejected Rotimi Amaechi’s claim that Tinubu’s policies contributed to his mother’s death.
- Amaechi had said his mother struggled to afford medication after Tinubu assumed office.
- Bwala predicted that Tinubu would perform better in the 2027 presidential election.
Bwala Admits More Nigerians Fell Into Poverty
Speaking with Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye, Bwala was asked whether he accepted that hunger had worsened and that more Nigerians had been pushed into poverty under the Tinubu administration.
Bwala initially described hunger and poverty as opposition talking points but subsequently acknowledged that the number of poor Nigerians had increased as a consequence of the government’s reform programme.
“More people went down to poverty, acknowledged,” Bwala said.
He, however, argued that the increase should be viewed within the context of the government’s broader economic restructuring.
According to him, reforms inevitably create discomfort before their expected benefits begin to emerge.
Tinubu’s Reforms Blamed for Rising Hardship
The major policies defended by Bwala include the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of Nigeria’s foreign-exchange market.
The subsidy removal was announced by President Tinubu during his inauguration in May 2023, while the forex reforms significantly altered the value of the naira against major international currencies.
The measures were followed by significant increases in transportation, food and import costs, contributing to widespread concerns over the cost of living.
Bwala argued that the hardship was part of the adjustment process required to correct longstanding economic distortions.
He pointed to initiatives including the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and road construction as evidence that the administration’s reforms were beginning to produce positive results.
Bwala Predicts Tinubu Will Gain More Votes in 2027
Despite acknowledging the increase in poverty, Bwala defended the Tinubu administration’s overall performance and expressed confidence that the President would secure a stronger electoral mandate in 2027.
He also claimed that opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, had benefited from Nigeria’s economic system and the opportunities available under previous governments.
Bwala’s comments come as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
Bwala Rejects Amaechi’s Claim Over His Mother’s Death
Bwala also responded strongly to a claim previously made by Amaechi during another edition of Politics Today.
Amaechi had said that the economic policies introduced by the Tinubu administration contributed to the death of his mother, Mary Amaechi, who died on July 16, 2026, at the age of 89.
Amaechi said his mother had been healthy before Tinubu assumed office but later struggled to afford medication as the cost of living increased.
Asked whether he was attributing her death to the government’s policies, Amaechi responded in the affirmative.
Bwala rejected the claim, describing it as false and accusing Amaechi of using populist narratives ahead of the 2027 election.
He argued that economic policies could not simply be presented as the cause of an individual’s death without medical evidence establishing such a connection.
Read also:
- Amaechi Says Late Mother Symbolised Nigeria’s Poor Women, Blames Economic Hardship
- ADC Chieftain Declares Tinubu Administration Worst Since 1999
- Onanuga Attacks Atiku, Amaechi, Says They Cannot Be Trusted With Nigeria
- Over 1,000 Islamic Clerics Ask Tinubu to Drop 2027 Bid as Yiaga Survey Reveals Voting Concerns
t
Amaechi’s Claim Remains His Personal Account
Amaechi’s statement represents his own account of his mother’s experience and does not, by itself, establish a medical cause of death.
There has been no evidence presented in the comments cited that medically attributes Mary Amaechi’s death to the Federal Government’s economic reforms.
Bwala therefore framed the claim as political rhetoric rather than an established fact.
Bwala’s Poverty Admission Sparks Reactions
Bwala’s admission that more Nigerians were pushed into poverty by the reforms generated significant reactions on social media.
Critics questioned whether the government had done enough to cushion the impact of the economic measures on ordinary Nigerians.
Some users also challenged the government over spending by public officials, including expenditure on official convoys, travel and other government activities.
Others accused the administration of attempting to justify worsening living conditions as an unavoidable consequence of reform.
The reactions highlight the growing political significance of Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis as the country approaches the 2027 election.
Government Defends Reform Despite Economic Pain
The Tinubu administration has consistently maintained that its economic reforms are designed to place Nigeria on a more sustainable growth path.
The government has argued that removing fuel subsidies and reforming the foreign-exchange market were necessary to reduce distortions, improve government finances and attract investment.
However, the reforms have also generated significant public criticism over inflation, food prices, transport costs and declining purchasing power.
Bwala’s latest comments appear to acknowledge one of the strongest criticisms of the administration — that the reform process has imposed significant hardship on Nigerians — while insisting that the long-term benefits will outweigh the immediate pain.
Poverty and Cost of Living Set to Shape 2027 Election
With the 2027 presidential election approaching, economic hardship is expected to remain one of the major issues shaping voter sentiment.
For the Tinubu administration, the challenge will be demonstrating that the reforms can translate into improved living standards after the period of adjustment.
For the opposition, Bwala’s admission that more Nigerians fell into poverty provides fresh ammunition in the campaign against the government.
The debate over the cost of reforms, their social consequences and whether Nigerians are beginning to see tangible benefits is therefore likely to intensify ahead of 2027.
For more political updates, follow us on X.
