Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Presidency has refuted claims that African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, poses any political threat to President Bola Tinubu or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on TVC’s Beyond the Headlines programme, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Adesina’s recent economic comments as inaccurate and politically misplaced. Adesina had stated during a policy forum in Abuja that Nigeria’s GDP per capita had declined from $1,847 in 1960 to about $824 in 2025, arguing that Nigerians are now worse off than they were 64 years ago. Responding, the Presidency rejected these figures, citing World Bank data which estimated Nigeria’s 1960 GDP per capita at just $93, not nearly $2,000. Onanuga stressed that GDP alone cannot determine citizens’ wellbeing and pointed to significant progress in infrastructure, education, and life expectancy. He maintained that, considering broader quality-of-life indicators and ongoing development projects, Nigerians are better off today than at independence.