TINUBU GOVT ON TRIAL: 10 Big Jagaban Wins You Probably Missed [And 5 Brutally Honest Things Seyi Must Still Whisper to His Daddy]

By: The Mayor of Fadeyi (Dr. Ope Banwo)

Disclaimer: I have not chopped any Agbado o and I Am Still An Unrepentant equal opportunity GbasGbos Critic — But The Truth Must Be Told

Before anybody comes for my head, let me say this one more time: I am not doing PR for Tinubu. I was just stunned by some things I discovered while prepping to interview Tope Fasua, the Presidential Adviser on the Economy in my Show “Ope Banwo, Live, Unplugged & Unscripted” … so I decided to talk about some of them instead of pretending I didn’t notice some big wins for this govt that we all love to hate.

I have been, and remain, one of the most unapologetic and brutally honest critics of any government that fails to deliver for Nigerians — and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government is not exempt. My duty as a patriot has always been to point out where government is failing its people. That’s what responsible citizens do.

However, if we are going to be honest commentators — and not professional wailers — we must also give flowers when flowers are deserved.

There’s no dignity in constantly shouting only when things are bad, while refusing to acknowledge real progress. In fact, I believe the very purpose of criticism is to push government to do better — and if they actually do better, then we must celebrate that too.

With that spirit in mind, permit me, as the Mayor of Fadeyi, to surprise many of my own fans today — by highlighting 10 major wins of this government that many critics may not even realize have happened. Then, of course, I will also balance it with 5 brutal areas where Seyi must whisper to Daddy that work still dey.

🔥 THE 10 BIG WINS YOU MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED UNDER TINUBU

1️⃣ Do You Know Tinubu Grew Cocoa Exports By Over 1,000% In Just One Year?

In 2023, Nigeria’s cocoa exports were ₦171 billion. In 2024, it jumped to over ₦2.7 trillion! That’s over 1,000% increase!

👉 For a country that has been sleeping on its cocoa riches for decades, this is nothing short of jaw-dropping. While it must be pointed out depreciation in Naira contributed to this but Naira depreciated by 300%  NOT 1,000%. Global demand, improved management, and better market penetration through the National Cocoa Management Committee helped unlock this sleeping giant.

2️⃣ Do You Know Nigeria Recorded A Trade Surplus Every Single Quarter In 2024?

Even I was surprised to learn this. It does not feel like it but fact is, For the first time in a long time, Nigeria exported more than it imported in all 4 quarters of 2024. Total exports hit ₦78 trillion!

👉 This is a serious turnaround from years of trade deficits. It shows that beyond oil, our non-oil exports are finally beginning to pull weight.

3️⃣ Do You Know Nigeria Moved From Big Balance of Payment Deficits To $6.83 Billion Surplus?

Between 2022-2023, we were running deficits of $3 billion+ yearly. In 2024, Nigeria closed with a $6.83 billion surplus. Yeah, it’s true.

👉 This signals that for the first time in years, we are earning more hard currency than we’re spending globally. That’s not small rice and beans, my people.

4️⃣ Do You Know Non-Oil Exports Grew By 25% In Just One Quarter?

Non-oil exports hit $1.79 billion in Q1 2025 — up almost 25% from same period in 2024.

👉 The talk of diversifying the economy beyond oil is not just talk as some of us have been saying but is finally becoming more than just political slogans.

5️⃣ Do You Know Oil Production Increased By Over 3% Despite Oil Sector Wahala?

Our crude production grew from 1.442 million barrels/day in 2023 to 1.489 million barrels/day in 2024 — a 3.27% increase.

👉 Yes, it may look small, but when you factor in pipeline vandalism, global oil wars, and operational headaches, any consistent growth in crude production is a big deal. At least it my own eyes though I agree I know very little about oil business 🤷🏿‍♂️

6️⃣ Do You Know Gas Exports Hit 15-Month High In 2025?

Gas exports reached their highest levels in 15 months by early 2025, driven by increased global demand.

👉 From the era of when we were just flaring our natural gas because we were clueless what to do with it, to actually doing something with has to be a major flower move . This is one sector where Nigeria can dominate in the years ahead if we get it right. The world is hungry for gas and we’re sitting on oceans of it.

7️⃣ Do You Know Our Foreign Exchange Reserves Rose By $7 Billion?

From $33 billion at end of 2023, reserves rose to $40 billion by end of 2024.

👉 While one cannot ignore all the rumors about politicians doing what politicians do, to actually GROW our external reserves is a major deal in my books. A fatter reserve means stronger currency stability and bigger confidence for foreign investors.

8️⃣ Do You Know Portfolio Investments Jumped 570% In Q1 2024?

Portfolio investors pumped $2.1 billion into Nigeria in Q1 2024 alone — up 570% from previous quarter.

👉 To listen to critics like me (ouch!) and all the noise about ‘the country is collapsing’ that we hear on social media, you would assume nobody is investing in our economy. So imagine my own surprise here when I actually went to research this point. That kind of money doesn’t enter a country unless investors feel some serious confidence in where things are going.

9️⃣ Do You Know Inflation Dropped By Over 10 Percentage Points?

Though I agree 100% that it does not feel like it, in fact would have bet that inflation was worse but the facts seem to say otherwise form my feelings. From a scary 34.6% in 2024, inflation came down to 23.7% by April 2025.

👉 Still high? Yes. But anyone who knows Nigerian economics will tell you this is a serious sign that the bleeding is slowing. Nothing about inflation ever goes down in Nigeria is my experience . So this is a big enough deal for me to include as part of the achievements of our govt few talk about

🔟 Do You Know Food Prices Dropped By Over 25% In Q1 2025?

At a time when food prices were threatening the peace of many households, food inflation dropped 25% within just 3 months. I disputed this myself but then all it takes ot validate it is for you to go round and check some of the current prices as against the previous months . Feelings can lie but hard facts do not . Don’t take my word for It. Do your own homework

👉 it’s not much consolation if considering the tough jobs market but still this gave many families some breathing room after the suffocating pain of skyrocketing prices in 2023.

🔔SO, I SAY GOOD WORK, DADDY JAGABAN, BUT SEYI MUST STILL TELL DADDY THESE 5 THINGS…

While these wins are worth clapping for, government work no dey finish. Seyi — as the good son that he is — must quietly whisper these 5 urgent assignments into Daddy’s ears:

1️⃣ Seyi Must Tell Daddy That 31 Million Nigerians Are Still Hungry

Despite the export numbers, over 31 million Nigerians remain food insecure. We need better internal food security, not just foreign currency from exports.

👉 Feed your people first, Daddy. Exports are great, but hungry citizens don’t clap for trade surpluses.

2️⃣ Seyi Must Tell Daddy That Oil Pipeline Sabotage Is Still Killing Revenue

We’re still losing billions to vandalism and oil theft every month.

👉 just whisper , ‘Daddy, Secure the pipelines aggressively, Daddy. If you lose the oil, you lose your fiscal stability’

3️⃣ Seyi Must Tell Daddy That Dangote’s Refinery Cannot Be Stranded

The $20 billion refinery is still not fully operational due to crude supply issues and bureaucracy.

👉 Seyi to Daddy, “Please Make refining fully functional, Daddy. Nigeria must stop importing refined petrol like a broke oil-rich country”.

5️⃣ Seyi Must Tell Daddy That Youth Unemployment Is Still Boiling

Millions of Nigerian youths are still jobless or hustling without stability.

👉 Seyi to Daddy, quietly but with feeling “Massive youth unemployment is a ticking bomb, Daddy. Radical job creation for the youth must become national emergency.

🎯 THE FLOWERS ARE WARNED BUT THE THUMBS DOWNS ARE ALSO REAL!

You see, my fellow Nigerians: Balanced patriotism requires two hands — one to clap, one to caution.

When your government scores big goals, clap.

When your government fumbles, shout.

When your government is confused, advise.

When your government lies, expose.

That is how a nation grows.

As Mayor of Fadeyi, my loyalty remains to Nigeria first — not any man, any party or any tribe.

👉 When Nigeria wins, I celebrate. When Nigeria errs, I criticize. Always. Now, Let the dragging begin between the Batists (aka Agbadorians, The Articulated and the Obidients!

As for me I am unapologetically the provision that we should all  Make Nigeria Great Again – “THE MANGARITES”

My name is Ope Banwo and I remain your brutally honest, equal opportunity Gbasgbos King and the undisputed Mayor of Fadeyi

Please Subscribe and Follow me on my MayorOfFadeyi.com, because the next gbas gbos missile Fit Be You or your candidate o !