A heated exchange has reportedly ensued on Arise News over the debate surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to tackle poverty and the worsening cost-of-living pressures facing Nigerians.
The argument followed comments by broadcaster and former presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, who rejected the claim that the Tinubu administration had done nothing to alleviate poverty.
According to Abati, such a statement would be inaccurate and potentially misleading.
«“Saying President Tinubu has not done anything to alleviate poverty is not true, it is mischievous. Stop misinforming people.”»
Abati’s position comes amid an ongoing national debate over whether the Federal Government’s economic reforms and social intervention programmes are translating into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
The government has pointed to several measures introduced under Tinubu, including social protection programmes, cash transfers and broader economic reforms. In July 2026, the Federal Government announced a package of five social protection and human-capital development programmes valued at approximately $3.05 billion, with poverty reduction, healthcare, education and economic opportunity among their stated objectives.
The government has also maintained that its economic reforms are beginning to produce macroeconomic gains. Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele said in October that about 10 million households were receiving cash transfers, while inflation had fallen to 14.63 per cent from 21 per cent a year earlier.
However, the discussion has remained contentious because improvements in macroeconomic indicators have not necessarily eliminated the financial difficulties experienced by households.
The removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign-exchange system have helped improve government finances, foreign reserves and investor confidence, according to Reuters. At the same time, those policies have contributed to severe cost-of-living pressures, with petrol prices reaching about ₦1,400–₦1,500 per litre in September 2026.
It was against this backdrop that fellow Arise News presenter Ojy Okpe challenged Abati’s assertion.
“Who is misinforming people? Did I miss anything?” Okpe asked, questioning the basis of the claim and demanding clarity over what specific measures should be considered evidence of successful poverty alleviation.
Rufai Oseni also joined the exchange, asking pointedly:
“Who is misinforming people? Who are you talking to?”
The reactions underline the larger disagreement surrounding the Tinubu administration’s economic record. While supporters argue that the government inherited significant structural problems and has embarked on reforms intended to stabilise the economy and create the foundation for future growth, critics contend that ordinary Nigerians should judge the administration primarily by their ability to afford food, transportation, housing, healthcare and other basic necessities.
The Federal Government has designated 2026 as the “Year of Social Development and Families in Nigeria,” with the stated objective of coordinating efforts to strengthen social development and family welfare.
President Tinubu’s administration has also continued to argue that the reforms are designed to move Nigeria away from an unsustainable model of borrowing and subsidies towards investment, job creation and long-term economic growth. The government says the next phase will focus on converting improved macroeconomic stability into better living standards.
The disagreement between Abati, Okpe and Oseni therefore reflects a much broader question confronting Nigerians: are the government’s economic and social interventions sufficiently reaching the people who need them most, or are the benefits of the reforms yet to be felt by ordinary households?
While Abati insists that it is inaccurate to say the Tinubu administration has done nothing to address poverty, Okpe and Oseni’s responses demonstrate that the effectiveness and impact of those interventions remain subjects of intense public debate.
Ultimately, the argument is less about whether government programmes exist and more about whether those programmes are producing measurable improvements in the daily lives of Nigerians.
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