Understanding the Outrage Against Bayo Onanuga

There is a constant battle of stories in Nigeria. Some political opponents, desperate to gain power, are spreading negative narratives about the country. Recently, a friend in South Africa complained about how South Africans insult Nigeria, going beyond just Afrophobia. Nigeria has become ‘gbantueyo’ (cheap, fake, disrespected) in the eyes of these critics. Their only aim is to grab power. Their ignorant followers act like a disease to the nation, profiting in the short term. But I urge those who want progress not to give up. For every group of critics, we must come together and share positive news about our country. We need to show the world that Nigeria is making progress and that there are successful individuals, even as the global economy changes in significant ways.

I have been meeting many Nigerians recently who want to return home or connect with Nigeria. The old belief that ‘anywhere else is better than Nigeria’ is fading. Many who went abroad now see that every country has its challenges. They understand that Nigeria's issues are mainly opportunities waiting for private solutions. Even the ongoing security problems in some areas often have political motives behind them, and the correct action is being taken with state policing. The same people using these issues for political gain are the ones criticizing state policing, hoping to delay it and see more insecurity. It is hard to believe. The President has granted local government autonomy, which means more funds are reaching the states. Now, state policing is becoming a reality for clear reasons, yet these critics still find reasons to be bitter.

Every country adapts based on its history. For instance, the United States struggles with gun violence. The Second Amendment was created during a time of extreme violence. Back then, bandits roamed the land, and people were often shot at first sight. Yet, new amendments are coming to limit gun access. Time plays a role in change. Nigeria is no different. Political change may be slow, but it does happen.

Regarding the economy, we must remember:

1. Poverty and hunger do not define Nigeria.
2. Like in any country, there are poor people here, in their millions. This is a legacy issue, and Nigeria has the largest population in Africa. Many black Africans see Nigeria as home and often cross borders to live here. I believe this will decrease due to our security issues.
3. The government wants to connect with Nigerians facing starvation, contrary to what the opposition claims. They need to see the situation clearly to act quickly. It seems the opposition prefers to keep the problem loud and ongoing. The government is determined to act where needed. The President cares a lot about the health and wellbeing of all Nigerians.
4. We think the recent financial reforms that have provided funds to states and local governments are significant. Some local governments now receive between N1 billion and N2 billion every month. Yes, the money is in Naira, and the increase is partly due to the Naira's devaluation in 2024, but we live in Nigeria and use the Naira. People in rural areas deal less with foreign currency than those in cities. This government focuses on those who struggle most, so the President is pleased to have policies that stimulate spending at the grassroots. Our attention now needs to be on local governments and states.
5. Some ask what the federal government is doing with its extra Naira from FAAC. For starters, Lagos State employs over 100,000 people, and the Federal Government pays close to 2 million Nigerians monthly, including police and military personnel. Salaries have increased as the Naira has weakened. We can also see the infrastructure development from the Federal Government. I support calls for transparency. This is part of a nation's growth. We will get there.
6. The President knows there is global concern since COVID-19 about the rich getting richer while the poor grow poorer. This is what economists call a k-shaped recovery. This is why tax reforms were fast-tracked and passed. The law aims to reduce inequality by ensuring the wealthy pay fair taxes.
7. The President is also aware of the big issue with informality in our economy. Recently, I spoke with a knowledgeable agency head in the financial sector. He told me Nigerians have parked almost $80 billion in cryptocurrencies. This is separate from the many unregistered businesses that operate in cash. This informality ties into our security challenges. Some of these influential individuals are part of those trying to stir up anger against the government.

Recently, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President's special adviser on Information and Strategy, had an interview with Mr. Charles Aniagolu on Arise TV. I only watched it after it drew attention. The comment that caused a stir was when Mr. Onanuga mentioned he pays salaries for many young Nigerians and does not see the narrative that ‘everyone is dying from hunger.’ Nigerians need to be careful not to get caught up in this ‘manufactured outrage economy.’ The opposition cannot use this method to gain power. They should present clear strategies and plans for Nigerians instead of vague promises. Currently, they have no solid plans, just emotional appeals. I believe their goal is not to help Nigerians, but to profit from the suffering they discuss. It is simple. They should show the hungry Nigerians. If they have made money in this country, they should help feed the starving wherever they can. I am confident the government will cover the costs if it is not inflated and proof is provided. I know of some individuals who have become billionaires in recent years, benefiting from this outrage economy. Some of them work in media. It is unfair. They should help Nigerians instead of tormenting them with their words. We must confront these people.

Recently, they targeted the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who has been working hard across the country, sharing what she can with those in need. Philanthropy should not only be recognized when the giver is impoverished. The First Lady hardly rests and has a unique energy. When she helps the poorest start small businesses, like frying akara, those who thrive on outrage started attacking her. If she assists thousands of poor individuals, isn't she solving a problem by helping them escape hunger and poverty? This is why we must recognize that these critics disdain Nigeria's poor and only aim to project that onto the ruling party. They do not seek solutions but heckle those who try to help, ensuring that issues remain unsolved. They have failed.

Reflecting on this, I remember Chinua Achebe's words in Things Fall Apart about Eneke the Bird. He learned to fly without perching when he saw that humans could shoot without missing. Those of us tasked with providing real solutions must gather solid evidence to support our claims and show that efforts are underway to improve Nigeria. We need visual and documented proof.

I considered the current situation and reached out to the National Bureau of Statistics. I wanted to see how many workers are in Nigeria by sector. I aimed to understand which sectors have more employees. The NBS provided data updated in 2023. Note that the NBS data is in the second column, while my thoughts are in the next column:

Figure 1: Data from NBS on employment distribution across sectors (column 2) and my projection of the current situation (column 3). First Page

Figure 2: Data from NBS on employment distribution across sectors (column 2) and my projection of the current situation (column 3). Second Page

Figure 3: New sectors that I believe now employ more people that may not be captured in the NBS data since economies are dynamic.

For the first two figures, the first column is the sector. The second is the NBS number for employment in each sector as of 2023. The third column is my critique and update of the NBS number. In the first two figures, I adjusted some numbers based on my views. Some NBS figures may have dropped as the economy changed, while in other cases, numbers could have increased. For instance, I reduced the count of those working in the Manufacturing of Wearing Apparel to 3 million from 4,524,128. The NBS figure for the Textile industry was cut from 726,876 to no more than 400,000. I raised the NBS number for Retail Trade from 18.8 million to 25 million to account for Nigeria’s 39 million MSMEs and growing population. More people are starting their own businesses, including market traders. I think 25 million is reasonable. I also reduced the number for Crop and Animal Production from 24.5 million to 20 million due to urbanization. I recognize there might be double-counting, as many farmers are also traders.

I increased the number of Household and Domestic Personnel from 151,000 to one million because I believe the NBS number is not reflective of reality. Think about how many houseboys, cooks, drivers, and gardeners there are in Nigeria. The number is huge! This is how to understand employment. If we look closely, we see many people who want to work in Nigeria actually find jobs. But many do not stay. Issues like bad attitude, drug use, and mistreatment by some employers lead to high staff turnover, causing unemployment. Moreover, I increased the number for the Financial Sector from 387,000 to 500,000 to include the many Fintechs in Nigeria.

In terms of new job types, I listed in Figure 3 new key employment areas like Makeup Artists, Digital and Remote Workers, and motorcycle taxi riders. Some dismiss these jobs, but many motorcycle riders earn more than office workers. A profit of N15,000 daily for 20 days a month equals N300,000 monthly and N3,600,000 yearly, untaxed. I think the NBS missed categories like Plumbers and Electricians, so I made assumptions for those. I also included jobs in Crypto companies, Pension management companies, Airlines, and Private Jets, estimating around 50,000 workers in the Aviation sector. I also considered the thousands of Salesmen in Real Estate and other fields.

In conclusion, with my assumptions and added categories, I estimate 93,887,000 people are employed in Nigeria today. These assumptions can be questioned. However, the NBS data helps us understand what is happening in different sectors. Political noise should not distract us from objectively looking at our economy to find the truth. It’s also essential to remember that out of Nigeria’s 220 million population, not everyone is a worker. A large part of the population is under 18. This accounts for over 80 million. Another 15 percent, or 30 million, are retirees and elderly people. So, our working population is between 100 and 110 million. If we can account for 93 million jobs, we have an unemployment issue, but it is not catastrophic.

That is what Mr. Onanuga meant when he said he does not see the overwhelming crisis that some claim is unsolvable. Like him, I also pay staff every month. For every staff member, a family is lifted from hunger. I encourage Mr. Onanuga to keep engaging with the media despite the backlash from some Nigerians. Mr. Aniagolu’s platform is one of the best, intellectually and challenging. I have faced attacks before but it has strengthened me and I will keep engaging. Many critics lack information, and we must reach out to the public whose minds may have been swayed by false narratives.

The reforms of the Tinubu Government are steering Nigeria toward recovery. New opportunities are emerging. However, we must consider that in the last two months, over 200,000 workers have been laid off by top tech companies due to ‘AI Efficiency.’

We should not be demanding jobs in Nigeria without acknowledging global trends. I believe Nigeria, like other developing nations, has unique opportunities that developed countries do not have anymore. The job market in security, environmental services, education, health, and information dissemination is still open. President Tinubu has called for at least 400,000 Nigerians to be employed in these areas. Yet, many young people prefer to insult their elders online instead of seeking work. We cannot continue down this path.

In closing, I want to praise the First Lady for her work with the poorest. A friend suggested she should discuss complex topics instead. We cannot be unreasonable. If she spoke about technology and finance to hungry people, critics would mock her. The leaders of the smear campaigns do not want to see a better Nigeria. They do not want hungry Nigerians to find food. When the government gives food, they criticize it. When did we last see key opposition figures help the needy instead of traveling abroad to damage Nigeria's reputation? They only want to hear themselves speak while Nigerians suffer. We must not let them win this debate because they have no valid points. President Tinubu will keep reaching out to the most vulnerable while ensuring he focuses on a brighter future for our nation.