A Special Adviser To President Buhari Has Only ₦2,500 – Adesina Shares Cash Scarcity Experience

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has said that those who are under the employment of the Federal Government are also feeling the heavy burden of the cash scarcity plaguing the nation.

Speaking via a weekly column, Adesina disclosed that things have been so tough for him he had access to only N20,000 for over one week.

The presidential aide penned the column days after the Supreme Court ordered the Federal Government and Central Bank of Nigeria to suspend the deadline for the exchange of the old for new naira notes.

According to him, he had to buy fuel of ₦8,000 as opposed to the full tank he normally get worth N15,000.

Adesina claimed that he only spent ₦6,000 for three days.

Adesina wrote: “For three days, I operated with just the ₦6,000 I had in my pocket.

“By Friday, it had shrunk to ₦2,500.00.

“What a huge war chest!

“You, a Special Adviser to President of the most populous country in Africa!

“Are you for real?

“Just ₦2,500.00?

“Well, those in government itch as well, and scratch as hard.

“That is what some people don’t know.

“The hen sweats, but its feathers make the sweat indiscernible.

“There was I, on a Friday, worth only ₦2,500.00 in new notes, both home and abroad.

“I called my banker, told him my plight, and he first laughed as if laughter was going out of fashion.

“After seeing that I was serious, he said the best he could do was get N20,000.00 for me, through the Automated Teller Machine, which was his own entitlement for the day.

“Well, beggars can’t be choosers, and half bread, as they say, is better than none.

“I sent my driver to collect the money, and promptly cancelled all the engagements I had lined up for the weekend.

“When you stay in your house, watching football and making yourself happy, you need not spend much money, if at all.

“But the first challenge had to be confronted.

“The car tank was almost at empty.

“It would take about N15,000.00 to fill it up.

“What to do?

“Buy ₦8,000.00 worth of fuel, which gave a half tank.

“We are making progress.

“And the remaining N12,000.00, one held in a tight fist.

“Not even an ant could touch it.”