Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has defended President Bola Tinubu’s reward package to the Super Falcons following their historic win at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Reacting to criticism from some Nigerians, Onanuga took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday to question the backlash, describing the president’s gesture as a deserving recognition of excellence.
He drew a comparison with the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality TV show, noting that the winner of the popular entertainment program is awarded a grand prize of ₦150 million.
“When you consider that Multichoice is giving the BBNaija winner ₦150 million, you begin to wonder why some Nigerians find it difficult to appreciate President Tinubu’s reward to the Super Falcons,” Onanuga wrote. “The president has simply honoured excellence, creativity, resilience, and the football brilliance of our women’s team.”
As earlier reported, President Tinubu awarded each of the 24 players $100,000, while members of the coaching crew and backroom staff received $50,000 each. In addition, all 35 team members were conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
The players and officials will also benefit from a housing allocation, each receiving a three-bedroom apartment under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Scheme.
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