Presidency Speaks On Nigerians Asking World Bank To Reject Loans

Presidency Speaks On Nigerians Asking World Bank To Reject Loans
Presidency linked anti-loan campaign to possible opposition politics.
Government says Nigeria’s current borrowing level remains within acceptable limits.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has dismissed calls by some Nigerians urging the World Bank to stop granting loans to Nigeria.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, Bwala suggested that opposition elements could be behind the online campaign against further borrowing by the Federal Government.

According to him, the country was approaching another election cycle, making it difficult to separate genuine public concern from politically motivated actions.

He maintained that regardless of public opinions expressed on social media, the Federal Government remained constitutionally empowered to carry out its responsibilities, including economic and financial decisions.

“This is the eve of election, and so, it’s difficult to tell if the citizens who flooded the social media page of the World Bank asking that Nigeria be denied the right to borrow are opposition members,” Bwala said.

“Whether they are opposition or not, government has the duty to execute the provision of the constitution.”

The presidential aide argued that leadership decisions could not be based solely on social media campaigns or emotional reactions from sections of the public.

According to him, government must act within the framework of the law and national interest while carrying out its constitutional obligations.

“In leadership, you listen to people, but when it comes to carrying out your responsibility, you do that in accordance with the law,” he stated.

Bwala also questioned how government would balance conflicting opinions from citizens if decisions were to be driven entirely by online sentiments.

“As a government, you are going to react to people who on social media said do not borrow Nigeria. What if you have another set of people saying go and borrow? How are you going to move as a leader?” he asked.

He further defended the Federal Government’s borrowing strategy, insisting that international financial institutions and economic experts had not raised concerns over Nigeria’s current debt profile.

Presidency Speaks On Nigerians Asking World Bank To Reject Loans

“Leadership is not guided by certain things that do not have the backing of law. World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and experts in the field said our borrowing so far is still in order,” Bwala added.