Presidential Aide Clarifies Viral N10,000 Comment, Says He Meant One Person

Presidential Aide Clarifies Viral N10,000 Comment, Says He Meant One Person

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, has clarified his controversial statement suggesting that N10,000 could feed a modest Nigerian family for several days, saying he actually meant a single person and not an entire family.

Fasua made the clarification in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Sunday following widespread backlash triggered by a viral clip from a members-only Coffee Hangout organised by the Kay Hikers Club in Abuja.

The presidential aide explained that his comments were made within the context of rural Nigeria and were immediately clarified during the event.

“My attention has been drawn to the viral 2-second clip of my interaction with Kay’s Hikers Club… wherein I stated that N10,000 is enough to ‘feed a modest family for several days’. There is a need to clarify that I meant to say ‘person’, and not ‘family’, and we were speaking at that point in the context of rural Nigeria,” he wrote.

According to Fasua, his broader message during the session focused on personal financial discipline and the need for Nigerians to remain optimistic despite current economic difficulties.

He said he encouraged participants to view Nigeria positively and avoid condemning the country amid ongoing economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.

The economist disclosed that he accepted the invitation because of his longstanding relationship with the event convener, Kingsley, and because he had previously engaged the same group of mostly young Nigerians about five years ago.

Fasua described the gathering as a “robust engagement” that lasted about two and a half hours and involved intense discussions on the economy, government reforms and opportunities in Nigeria.

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He said many attendees adopted what he described as a “combatant” tone, with some questions becoming personal and highly critical of the government.

Despite this, he maintained that such engagements between government officials and citizens, especially young Nigerians, should be encouraged.

The presidential aide said he used the platform to explain some of the administration’s economic policies, including tax reforms and foreign exchange adjustments.

He also cited indigenous retail brands such as Ebeano Supermarket, Justrite Superstore and Market Square while discussing the challenges facing foreign retail chains in Nigeria.

Fasua further lamented what he described as sensational reporting and selective editing by the media, arguing that short clips taken out of context often distort public understanding of longer discussions.

“We live in a world where people judge by headlines,” he said, adding that interviews are rarely aired in full and clarifications are often ignored because controversial snippets generate more attention online.

The comment sparked heated reactions on social media, with many Nigerians arguing that the cost of living crisis has made it nearly impossible for families to survive on such an amount amid rising food prices and inflation.

The controversy comes at a time when Nigerians continue to grapple with the effects of fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate instability and increasing living costs under the current administration.

Recent economic discussions by Fasua have focused on defending the Tinubu administration’s reforms and arguing that the government’s economic reset is beginning to show signs of progress.

The Tinubu administration has repeatedly defended its economic policies as necessary reforms aimed at stabilising Nigeria’s economy, although critics say the measures have worsened hardship for ordinary citizens.

Presidential Aide Clarifies Viral N10,000 Comment, Says He Meant One Person