Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, has said that Nigerians are better off today than they were at the country’s independence in 1960, despite the current economic hardship.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, Fasua argued that comparing today’s struggles with the realities of 1960 was misleading.
He explained that at independence, most Nigerians lived in rural areas with little or no access to basic infrastructure. According to him, the migration of citizens from villages into major cities like Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, and Enugu created a wave of urban poverty that shaped the narrative of post-independence hardship.
“For those who try to compare Nigeria to 1960, in many ways we are living a better life now. In 1960, most of our people were in villages. It was only after independence that people started moving into the cities, which created urban poverty because many didn’t know how to adjust,” Fasua said.
The presidential aide stressed that the Tinubu administration is not focused on quick fixes like cash handouts but on long-term reforms that will secure a stronger future for generations to come.
“President Tinubu’s administration is committed to building a different trajectory—one that paints a new picture for our children and unborn children. We are investing in reforms and infrastructure, not just sharing money,” he added.
At independence, Nigeria had a population of about 45 million, with agriculture dominating the economy and access to education, healthcare, electricity, and potable water largely restricted to urban centres. Today, with over 230 million people, the country has witnessed expansion in schooling, healthcare delivery, and infrastructure, though poverty and unemployment remain pressing issues.
Fasua also dismissed the 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Report by the National Bureau of Statistics, which revealed that 133 million Nigerians were living in poverty. He described the report as outdated, insisting that ongoing investments in infrastructure had already lifted millions out of hardship.
“If we redid the multidimensional poverty survey today, perhaps 10 to 20 million people have been taken out of poverty due to ongoing reforms,” he said.
He further highlighted that inflation, which peaked at 34 percent, has dropped to 24 percent, with expectations of further decline. Citing the World Poverty Clock, he noted that between five to six million Nigerians have already been lifted out of poverty.
Fasua urged Nigerians to look beyond immediate difficulties and recognise that meaningful transformation takes time.
“Progress is being made, even if it doesn’t feel that way immediately. Building a better country means sustainable growth for the majority, not just temporary relief for a few,” he concluded.
