The presidency has rejected claims that Nigeria is on the verge of collapse, insisting that such assertions are exaggerated and not backed by facts.

In a statement on Thursday, Sunday Dare, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and public communications, said while the country is facing economic challenges, the situation is not as dire as some reports suggest.

The presidential spokesperson specifically responded to a recent editorial by Daily Trust titled “Nigeria is Collapsing under Tinubu’s Watch”, criticising the piece for fuelling public despair and misrepresenting the true state of the nation.

“The claim that 33 million Nigerians are at risk of hunger is a projection, not a confirmed reality,” Dare said, referring to figures from the Cadre Harmonisé report—a regional tool used to predict potential food insecurity.

He described the editorial as part of a pattern of alarmist journalism that overlooks ongoing efforts by the federal government to stabilise the economy and support citizens.

Dare highlighted several interventions—including the release of food from national reserves, ongoing agricultural programmes, and cash transfer initiatives—as proof that the federal government is working to ease hardship and restore stability.

On the economy, he noted improvements in the exchange rate, with the naira gaining against the dollar, and pointed to tax reforms and social programmes expected to gain more traction in 2026.

“Criticism is welcome, but it must be rooted in truth — not fear-mongering,” he added.