The Presidency has reacted to reports of Nigerians flooding the World Bank’s social media pages to urge the institution to halt further loans to Nigeria, dismissing the action and questioning its authenticity.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, addressed the issue during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, suggesting that the timing of the incident, during an election period, raises suspicions about possible political involvement.
He said it was difficult to determine whether those behind the online campaign were ordinary citizens or opposition supporters, but maintained that the federal government would continue to act within its constitutional responsibilities.
According to him, governance decisions cannot be based on social media pressure, regardless of the direction of public opinion.
Bwala explained that while leaders are expected to listen to citizens, policy implementation must still follow legal and institutional frameworks.
He added that government officials would be expected to respond even if public sentiment is divided, noting that some people may ask the country not to borrow while others may support borrowing.
He also stressed that Nigeria’s borrowing level remains within acceptable standards as assessed by international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), arguing that expert assessments still place the country’s debt position in order.
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