“We Congratulate Bwala For Finally Admitting Tinubu’s Reforms Deepen Poverty” — ACF Fires Back At Presidency

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has sarcastically congratulated Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, for admitting that the administration’s economic reforms have deepened poverty and hardship in the country.

Professor Tukur Mohammed-Baba, Publicity Secretary of the ACF, stated this during an interview on Arise Television’s News Day on Thursday, October 8, 2026.

Mohammed-Baba was reacting to Bwala’s comments on Channels Television on Wednesday, where the presidential aide admitted that the government’s reforms had increased poverty but argued that the administration had made progress since introducing the measures.

The ACF spokesman said Bwala’s admission marks a departure from the Presidency’s usual denial.

“Let’s first of all be very happy and congratulate Bwala. Until now, one would expect that whenever he comes on TV or appears on social media, it is to deny, deny, deny. But I think we are making progress since his admitting fundamentally that the reforms have brought untold hardships on Nigerians. Most especially, he has not denied that poverty has been rising,” Mohammed-Baba said.

He said multidimensional poverty in Nigeria is now well over 60 percent, and dismissed the government’s claim that benefits of the reforms will outweigh current pains as “hallucinations,” comparing it to the Structural Adjustment Programme under former military President Ibrahim Babangida.

Mohammed-Baba said Nigerians are battling declining purchasing power, rising rents, housing costs, transport fares, electricity bills and worsening insecurity.

“Look at the purchasing power of the naira. Look at the living conditions of Nigerians. Look at rent. Look at housing materials. Look at transportation. Look at electricity costs. See the condition of the roads in Nigeria, and above all, see the level of insecurity that has been pervading this country,” he said.

He said his recent visits to parts of the Northeast, North-Central and Northwest showed insecurity has made farming increasingly difficult.

The ACF publicity secretary said the Tinubu administration can no longer blame past governments, noting that those who sought power should have assessed what they would inherit.

“That is precisely why we have a democracy. You identify there are problems, and you think you have the answer. You go out, canvass for votes. You get it, and now you spend reminding us other leaders have faced these problems,” he said.

He urged the government to take responsibility instead of telling Nigerians it is not responsible for their hardship.

“There is no doubt that if the government were to go into the room, look at itself in the mirror, and tell us honestly whether it has performed optimally or near satisfactorily, I am sure the answer will be negative,” Mohammed-Baba added.