Photo File: Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga has defended the national honours and cash rewards awarded to Nigeria’s Super Falcons by President Bola Tinubu, likening the gesture to the N150 million prize money given to winners of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show.

In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, Onanuga slammed critics questioning the scale of the President’s reward, stating, “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. President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry, and the undying Nigerian spirit.”

His remarks came hours after the president hosted the Super Falcons at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Each player and coaching crewmember received the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), alongside a cash gift of $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. Tinubu also promised three-bedroom apartments for the team members at the Renewed Hope Housing Estate in the Federal Capital Territory.

However, Onanuga’s defence sparked intense debate online. While some commended the gesture, many Nigerians questioned the rationale behind the foreign currency award and the choice of comparison.

User @Wale_Abdul queried, “Why is he gifting them in dollars? The richest countries in the world won’t ever make such gifting to athletes who collect salaries.” Another, @Bolanle_Juwon, wrote, “Why dollars and not the equivalent in naira? The Nigerian government should, as a matter of urgency, do away with the line of promoting another nation’s currency.”

A broader critique came from @Ezekwem_Franklin, who stated, “I’m not against the gift, but that amount is too much for a country whose citizens are living in abject poverty, infrastructural decay, and insecurity. This wasn’t thoughtful from President Tinubu; it’s not a good way to buy favour.”

Yet, some Nigerians rallied in support of the reward. @Ghali_Ismael praised the President’s action, calling it impressive. Others, like @IAm_Emma_Eze, argued that “Tinubu’s gesture to the Super Falcons deserves applause. Some presidents ignore sports achievements entirely.”

Still, the BBNaija analogy received strong pushback. @Official_dharmy noted, “BBNaija is private money. Falcons played for the country. It’s not the same. The comparison doesn’t work.” Echoing that view, @SirDavidBent asked, “Why is it so hard for the government to do the right thing without comparing it to a TV show?”

For @NenyeVibes, while both BBNaija and the Falcons deserve rewards, “one shouldn’t be used to justify the other.”

As reactions continue to pour in, Onanuga’s post has reignited public conversations around government spending, the value of national service, and the optics of presidential generosity.