Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has said that no state in Nigeria is currently bankrupt under President Tinubu’s administration, an improvement from the situation when he assumed office.

Bwala made the statement during a televised interview on Monday, where he addressed critics of the president, saying, “Either they are blind, deaf, or dumb. But I will help them today.”

According to him, when President Tinubu took the oath of office, 27 states in the federation were reportedly bankrupt and unable to pay workers’ salaries. “They virtually couldn’t do anything at all. That was the state of things when he became president,” Bwala stated.

He emphasized that the current administration has reversed that trend. “Today, there is not a single state in Nigeria that is bankrupt or unable to pay salaries. Instead, you now have governors who have gone beyond that, delivering good governance and executing projects,” he said.

Citing an example from a recent visit of the President to some states, Bwala said, “A few days ago, we were in Katsina. The governor reaffirmed my position, noting that while states previously struggled to pay salaries, they are now commissioning projects and inviting the president to do so.

Bwala also stated that even opposition-led states have acknowledged improvements under Tinubu’s policies.

“Instructively and interestingly, even PDP states like Abia and Enugu have admitted that the president’s policies have significantly increased their allocations, enabling them to deliver on governance,” he said.

He described this development as the administration’s “first major achievement,” adding that it prevented a total economic collapse. “Had the president not acted decisively, the number of bankrupt states could have increased from 27 to perhaps 32—leaving only Lagos, Rivers, and maybe two others able to function.”

Speaking on other fronts, Bwala pointed to improvements in foreign reserves and debt servicing. “We are increasing our foreign reserves while paying off the debt that once choked the country,” he noted.

He also praised the student loan initiative, which he said now enables children from low-income families to fund their education, as well as renewed efforts in road construction to address decades of infrastructural decay.

“Experts said Nigeria needs $30 billion to $100 billion annually for 20 to 30 years to fix infrastructure, yet our national budget is under $35 billion. Despite that, the president has managed to bring stability,” he added.

Bwala described the administration’s policies as “foundational” and “laying the groundwork” for sustainable national growth, saying that Nigerians would no longer need to “beg day and night” or mortgage their children’s future to meet development goals.

He concluded by citing the removal of fuel subsidies as a bold step that has improved state finances and governance. “These are just a few of the many achievements of President Tinubu. When the whistle is blown for campaigns, we’ll be ready with the facts,” Bwala declared.