By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has defended the national honours and financial rewards given to the Super Falcons following their 2024 WAFCON victory, drawing comparisons to the ₦150 million prize awarded to winners of Big Brother Naija.
In a post on his official X account on Tuesday, Onanuga questioned why some Nigerians criticized President Bola Tinubu’s gesture, saying the team was being rewarded for “excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry, and the undying Nigerian spirit.” Tinubu had hosted the team at the Presidential Villa and conferred on each player and coach the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), alongside financial rewards of $100,000 (in naira) for players and $50,000 for coaching staff, as well as three-bedroom apartments in the Renewed Hope Housing Estate, FCT.
The comparison to BBNaija sparked mixed reactions online, with some users questioning the use of foreign currency and prioritization of rewards amid national hardship.
Others defended the move, praising Tinubu for honoring national pride. While some criticized the comparison with a privately funded reality show, others called for celebrating the Falcons without unnecessary parallels.
