Delta State Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme has faced criticism from Nigerian community leaders in Atlanta, Georgia, over President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, infrastructure projects and the persistent hardship confronting citizens at home. While Onyeme defended the administration’s policies as necessary for long-term economic stability, members of the diaspora questioned whether the reforms had improved living conditions and raised concerns over insecurity, road conditions and transparency in public procurement.
Key Highlights
- Delta Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms during a diaspora meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Nigerian community leaders questioned the impact of the reforms on living costs and ordinary citizens.
- Onyeme cited local government financial autonomy, economic growth and major federal road projects as signs of progress.
- Diaspora representatives raised concerns over poor highways, kidnappings and insecurity.
- Chief Emeka Chimekwene questioned the transparency of public procurement and alleged contract awards.
- Onyeme acknowledged implementation delays but maintained that federal infrastructure projects represented long-term investments.
- The exchange reflected continuing disagreements over the economic and social effects of the Tinubu administration’s policies.
Onyeme Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms in Atlanta
The meeting, hosted by Chief Collins Odinjor and his wife, Alero, with support from other members of the Delta diaspora, brought Onyeme into discussions with Nigerian professionals and community leaders, including Raymond Ekuerhare and Chief Emeka Chimekwene.
Onyeme, a professional accountant, described Tinubu as a leader who had taken difficult decisions to address longstanding economic challenges. He argued that the administration’s eight-point Renewed Hope Agenda, which includes petrol subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms, tax changes and electricity sector adjustments, was intended to establish a foundation for long-term stability and economic growth.
He also cited reported economic expansion in 2025 and 2026, increased investor interest and the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment affirming financial autonomy for local governments as developments he considered significant achievements.
According to Onyeme, financial autonomy could help Nigeria’s 774 local government councils improve the delivery of services such as roads, primary healthcare, education, sanitation and local security.
Deputy Governor Highlights Federal Infrastructure Projects
Onyeme also pointed to major infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Federal Government, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway and Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway.
He further referenced plans for the Akwanga-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri corridor, arguing that investments in road infrastructure would improve connectivity, support commerce and contribute to economic development.
The deputy governor attributed some negative perceptions of Nigeria abroad to misinformation and misleading narratives circulating on social media.
He urged Nigerians in the diaspora to share a more balanced account of developments in the country while acknowledging that the government’s reforms had imposed short-term financial pressure on households.
Onyeme maintained that the expected long-term benefits of the reforms would become more evident over time. He also linked federal economic policies to the capacity of state and local governments to implement development programmes, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda.
Diaspora Leader Challenges Government’s Performance
Raymond Ekuerhare, who said he regularly travels to Nigeria, challenged Onyeme’s assessment of the administration’s achievements.
He cited the condition of major highways, including the Benin-Asaba, Ore-Benin, Benin-Warri and Warri-Ughelli-Bomadi roads, as evidence that infrastructure announcements had not consistently translated into visible improvements for road users.
“The eight-point Renewed Hope Agenda is only good on paper but not affecting people’s lives for good,” Ekuerhare said, according to ThisDay.
He also raised concerns over insecurity and kidnappings, arguing that the threats continued to restrict movement, disrupt economic activities and affect public confidence.
His comments reflected the concerns of diaspora Nigerians who maintain close contact with relatives and communities in Nigeria and assess government performance partly through their experiences and reports from home.
Chimekwene Questions Procurement Transparency
Chief Emeka Chimekwene also challenged the deputy governor’s account, raising questions about transparency in public procurement and alleging that some contract awards involving the Chagoury Group lacked competitive bidding.
His comments were allegations raised during the meeting and were not independently established by the exchange itself.
Chimekwene said diaspora Nigerians relied on direct reports from family members and personal visits, rather than social media alone, to assess the country’s economic and social conditions.
He expressed greater confidence in projects he considered verifiable in Delta State under Governor Oborevwori but questioned the scale, pace and visible progress of federal infrastructure projects.
He also argued that some flagship road projects remained at relatively early stages despite the attention they had received.
Onyeme acknowledged that implementation delays existed but attributed some of the challenges to the technology and engineering methods involved. He nevertheless maintained that the projects represented important long-term investments in Nigeria’s infrastructure.
Read also:
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Tinubu’s Reforms Face Questions Over Cost of Living
The disagreement in Atlanta reflects a wider debate over the consequences of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies.
Supporters of the reforms argue that measures such as petrol subsidy removal and foreign exchange market changes were necessary to address economic distortions, improve public finances and attract investment.
Critics, however, point to increased living costs, pressure on household incomes, insecurity and the slow pace at which some infrastructure projects are delivering visible benefits.
For many Nigerians, the central question remains whether the expected gains from economic restructuring will translate into improved living standards and more reliable public services.
The Atlanta meeting brought these competing perspectives into direct discussion, with Onyeme emphasising structural changes and long-term investment while diaspora representatives focused on their concerns about conditions experienced by Nigerians at home.
Atlanta Meeting Highlights Diaspora Concerns
The engagement was moderated in part by Mrs Ndidi Ogwu and attended by several figures, including former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia.
Onyeme’s visit forms part of broader diaspora outreach in which he has discussed investment opportunities in Delta State, including its free economic zones, and highlighted projects undertaken by the state government.
However, the Atlanta discussion showed that promoting government policies abroad can prompt difficult questions from Nigerians who remain connected to the country through family, business and personal visits.
The exchange did not resolve the disagreements over Tinubu’s economic record. Instead, it underscored the need for government officials to demonstrate how policy changes, infrastructure spending and public-sector reforms are improving everyday life.
As the debate continues, the administration’s economic performance is likely to be assessed not only through growth figures and announced projects but also through their effects on household finances, security, transport and access to public services.
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