In every society, governments rely on information flow to build trust, communicate policies, and inspire confidence. But when propaganda replaces truth, when spin overtakes substance, the consequences can be devastating. Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is sliding deeper into this dangerous terrain, where a network of “data boys,” social media influencers, and paid media surrogates are tasked with manipulating narratives, manufacturing optimism, and masking a bitter economic reality.
Food Prices and the Illusion of Relief
Recently, Nigerians were greeted with headlines claiming that food prices were finally coming down after months of relentless inflation. On the surface, this looked like a welcome reprieve. Markets in Lagos, Kano, and Abuja saw marginal dips in the price of staples like rice, beans, and maize. But behind this “relief” is a carefully engineered propaganda strategy.
One of the loudest narratives pushed was that ships laden with rice and other food items were being imported by the Federal Government to ease shortages. Newspapers, broadcast media, and social media were saturated with these claims, amplified by influencers on government payroll. The impression was created that massive food imports were on the way — that Nigeria’s hunger crisis was finally being addressed directly by decisive state action.
But the truth is starkly different. The government itself did not import food. Instead, a handful of its proxies and cronies were quietly given waivers to import limited quantities. Even this was grossly exaggerated. The reality is that most of the food currently circulating in Nigerian markets is still homegrown. What the propaganda achieved, however, was to frighten hoarders into believing the market would soon be flooded with imports. Fearing huge losses, they rushed to release their stockpiles, temporarily pushing prices down.
Thus, the so-called food relief was less a product of genuine agricultural progress or strategic policy, and more the result of weaponized perception management — a psychological trick played on traders and citizens alike.
Borrowing to Pay Loans: A Nation in Circles
This tactic is not new. It mirrors similar propaganda stunts used by the Tinubu administration in the past — particularly in matters of finance. When the foreign reserves looked dangerously depleted, the government boasted about inflows and rising reserves, only for reports to later reveal that much of the reserve build-up was propped up by short-term loans. Similarly, when debt servicing swallowed most of the budget, propaganda machinery sold the narrative of “fiscal prudence,” while behind the scenes, more borrowing was taking place to cover maturing loans.
The Tinubu government, like its predecessor, has consistently borrowed not only to fund projects but also to service existing loans. This cycle of debt is masked with propaganda-driven media blitzes that celebrate bond issuances, international loans, or temporary reserve boosts as “economic victories.” In reality, these measures only postpone the pain while mortgaging the future.
Worse still, every time the government engages in this cycle, its “data boys” flood the digital space with coordinated campaigns aimed at silencing critics. They frame critics as “enemies of progress” or “anti-reform agitators,” while painting a false picture of economic stability.
Billions Spent on Data Boys While Citizens Sink in Poverty
Perhaps the most troubling element is the massive spending on propaganda. Reports indicate that billions — if not hundreds of billions — of naira are being funneled into media campaigns, social media influencers, and propaganda outfits to keep the government’s narrative alive. This comes at a time when poverty levels have deepened, literacy is in decline, and public services like healthcare and education are collapsing.
The irony is glaring: instead of using resources to address hunger, joblessness, and insecurity, the government invests in manufacturing consent. The state prefers to paint a rosy picture online than fix the real-world hunger in villages and cities across Nigeria.
Lessons from Global Propaganda Failures
History is filled with examples of governments that relied too heavily on propaganda only to watch it backfire disastrously:
- Soviet Union (Chernobyl, 1986): The USSR initially concealed the scale of the nuclear disaster, using propaganda to project control. The truth inevitably leaked, fueling public distrust that contributed to the collapse of the Soviet empire.
- Iraq (2003): Saddam Hussein’s regime used propaganda to deny weaknesses, while U.S. propaganda exaggerated the presence of weapons of mass destruction. Both narratives collapsed, leading to war, chaos, and untold suffering.
- Venezuela (Chávez and Maduro eras): Government propaganda portrayed the country as thriving under socialist reforms, even as hyperinflation and food shortages ravaged the population. The mismatch between propaganda and lived reality destroyed credibility and fueled unrest.
These global cases serve as cautionary tales. No matter how sophisticated the propaganda machinery, reality eventually catches up — and when it does, the fallout is far worse than if truth had been told.
Nigeria’s Propaganda State: Walking a Dangerous Line
In Nigeria today, the propaganda architecture of the Tinubu administration is clear. The “data boys” on social media amplify every government action, no matter how insignificant, while downplaying or discrediting genuine grievances. Television and radio are flooded with messaging that paints economic reforms as the only viable path forward, even when ordinary citizens are gasping under their weight.
But propaganda is a double-edged sword. While it may deceive some hoarders into releasing food stocks, or pacify some citizens with carefully staged economic optimism, it erodes trust in governance. When Nigerians eventually realize that falling food prices were engineered, not earned, the backlash will be brutal.
Conclusion: The Consequences Ahead
The power of data boys may deliver temporary wins for the Tinubu government, but the consequences of state-sponsored propaganda are long-term and destructive. A government that feeds its people with illusions instead of solutions is writing a dangerous script.
For now, the propaganda machine hums on, drowning the cries of the hungry, the poor, and the jobless. But history shows us one undeniable truth: propaganda may buy time, but it cannot buy legitimacy.