Presidency Denies Claims Saying Tinubu Advised Buhari To Print Naira

The Presidency has denied claims that President Bola Tinubu advised former President Muhammadu Buhari to print Naira in 2020.

According to Bayo Onanuga, a Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, such claims are inaccurate.

Earlier, Paul Ibe, the spokesperson for the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had asserted that Tinubu advised Buhari to print Naira in 2020.

Ibe’s assertion came in response to Minister of Finance, Wale Edun’s remarks about the printing of N22.7 trillion during Buhari’s administration.

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Edun attributed the rising inflation and economic challenges in Nigeria to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s printing of Naira under the guise of a Ways and Means loan during Buhari’s tenure.

The Minister further criticized the alleged reckless spending of the overdraft obtained from the CBN under Godwin Emefiele, the former CBN governor, which greatly contributed to the country’s food and security crises.

In response, Onanuga recalled that Tinubu had clarified the matter when it was initially reported.

Onanuga said on X:

“President Tinubu did not advise the Buhari administration to print Naira, the way it was erroneously reported in 2020.

“He provided a clarification in Thisday of 30 March, 2020, a day after the false report came out.”