Presidential Aide Backs Tinubu’s Reward to Super Falcons, Cites BBNaija ₦150M Prize

• Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has defended President Tinubu’s recent monetary and honorary rewards to the Super Falcons following their 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations victory.

• Onanuga addressed criticism of President Tinubu’s rewards, stating they were a celebration of excellence and national pride.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to reward the Super Falcons following their recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) triumph.

Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Onanuga responded to growing criticism over the monetary and honorary gifts announced by the president. He argued that the gesture was a celebration of excellence, national pride, and sporting achievement.

Drawing a comparison with entertainment rewards, Onanuga pointed out that Multichoice offers a ₦150 million prize to the winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show a privately funded programme yet some Nigerians still frown upon the government’s recognition of national heroes.

“When you remember that Multichoice, the organiser of the BBNaija reality show, is offering the winner ₦150 million grand prize, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons,” he wrote.

“President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry, and the undying Nigerian spirit.”

This defense followed a grand reception hosted by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to celebrate the Super Falcons’ record-breaking 10th WAFCON title.

At the ceremony, each player was awarded the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). In addition, the president announced cash rewards of $100,000 for each player and $50,000 for each member of the coaching staff, along with three-bedroom apartments for the entire squad at the Renewed Hope Housing Estate in Abuja.

Onanuga’s comments stirred debate across social media, with many Nigerians split over the appropriateness of the government’s generosity and the relevance of comparing it to a reality TV prize.