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Atiku’s Scaremongering on Debt Profile Based On False Premise – FG

Published

5 years ago

June 17, 2020

Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government has said the apocalyptic scenarios on thecountry’s debt profile, as painted by former Vice PresidentAtiku Abubakar in his press statement on Tuesday, is nothing butscaremongering anchored on a false premise.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister ofInformation and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said while the FederalGovernment welcomes constructive criticism, such must be based onverifiable facts rather than conjectures and innuendos.

”There is no doubt that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lovesour country and wishes it well, otherwise he would not have sustained his serial quest for the country’s highest position. One can only hope that his resort to the use of such words as ‘precipice’, ‘foreclosure’ and ‘economic ruin’ does not reflect anything but best wishes for the country at this time,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the figure of Nigeria’s debt to revenue ratio of99% in the first quarter of 2020, quoted by the former Vice President,is not in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, where he claimed he got it from.
”We are also not able to ascertain the source of the first quarterfigures of N943.12 billion for debt servicing and N950.56 billion forretained revenue, which he also quoted,” he said.

The Minister said the debt service provisions in the annual budgetsinclude principal repayments, interest payments and all other applicable charges, adding: ”Therefore, the statement that debt servicing does not equate to debt repayment is not only wrong, but ill-informed.”

On the former Vice President’s assertion that revenue needs to go up, he said this Administration has introduced several measures to shoreup revenues, listing some of the measures as the passage andimplementation of the Finance Act, 2019, various on-going reforms inthe Oil and Gas, Tax Administration and Collections, as well as theStrategic Revenue Growth Initiatives.

Furthermore, Alhaji Mohammed said, since Nigeria’s debt service isexpressly provided in the annual budgets and the debt service payments are made as and when due, the issue of creditors foreclosing onNigeria, as strangely predicted by the former Vice President, does notarise.

He said contrary to the statement credited to Alhaji Abubakar thatNigeria has experienced alarming and unprecedented increase in theratios of debt to GDP and debt service to revenue, indeed, Nigeria’sratio of debt to GDP is one of the lowest in the world at 19.00% as atDecember 31, 2019, while Government is making concerted efforts to increase revenue so as to bring down the ratio of debt service to revenue.

”One of the reasons why debt service to revenue is high is becauserevenue generation in Nigeria has been low, with over-dependence onthe oil sector. This is corroborated by the fact that the ratio ofNigeria’s tax revenue to GDP is one of the lowest in the world atabout 6%,” the Minister said.

He said unlike what obtained in the past, when the nation borrowed toservice the crass indulgence of a few fat cats, the loans being obtained by the current Administration are beingprimarily used to finance infrastructure projects, which includeroads, railways, bridges and power, and the loans are long-term innature, which would benefit present and future generations.

”We have said that in the face of massive infrastructural decay, noresponsible government will sit by and do nothing. ThisAdministration’s borrowing, therefore, is aimed mostly at revampingour infrastructure. The loans for theeducational sector will contribute to the development of our humancapital while the loans for the agricultural sector will help the moveto diversify the economy,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He said despite the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on thecountry’s economy, the Federal Government has continued to takemeasures to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, and assured that theGovernment will always act in the best interest of Nigerians.

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Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

3 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

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