A presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, has defended ongoing economic reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the current hardship reflects necessary changes rather than policy failure.

In a post on X on Monday, Bwala argued that while reforms may be difficult, the challenges Nigerians previously endured were worse but had become normalised over time.

“Yes, reform is loud. But, as Nigerians, we need to be honest with ourselves. The problems we lived with for years were even louder. We just got used to them. The waste, the inefficiency, and the struggle to make simple things work; it became our normal,” he wrote.

He maintained that the disruptions currently being experienced are part of a broader effort to fix long-standing structural issues in the country.

“Now that things are being fixed under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it won’t be quiet or easy. Real change never is. The noise you hear today is the sound of difficult but necessary change,” Bwala added.

The presidential aide emphasised that nation-building requires sacrifice and resilience, noting that reform processes are rarely smooth.

“Nation-building is not a quiet process. It demands courage, sacrifice, and honesty. And while reform may be uncomfortable for Nigerians, it is the only path to lasting stability and shared prosperity for all Nigerians,” he said.

Bwala also criticised opposition parties for failing to provide alternative policy proposals, particularly on key economic decisions taken by the current administration.

“As of now, the opposition has not told us the alternatives to fuel subsidy removal. They are yet to tell the available option to FX rates reconciliation. They are yet to present a counter offer to young Nigerians on Nelfund’s student loan, amongst many others,” he stated.

He further took a swipe at past administrations, suggesting their policies had negative consequences for the country.

“They took us to Egypt during their days. Imagine where a congregation of them all in one place would further take us,” Bwala said.