Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the national honours and cash rewards granted to Nigeria’s Super Falcons by President Bola Tinubu following their recent victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Onanuga responded to critics who felt the president’s gesture was either excessive or insufficient.
He argued that the recognition was well-deserved and drew a pointed comparison with the ₦150 million grand prize awarded to the winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show.
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“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,” Onanuga wrote.
He added, “President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry, and the undying Nigerian spirit.”
His remarks came just hours after President Tinubu hosted the triumphant Super Falcons team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. During the reception, the president conferred national honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on each player and member of the coaching staff.
In addition to the national honours, Tinubu announced a monetary gift equivalent to $100,000 (in naira) for each player and $50,000 for each technical crew member.
He also promised each team member a three-bedroom apartment in the Renewed Hope Housing Estate located in the Federal Capital Territory.
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