Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the national honours and financial rewards given by President Bola Tinubu to Nigeria’s Super Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Onanuga took a swipe at critics, who claimed the rewards were either excessive or insufficient.

He drew a comparison with the ₦150 million grand prize offered to the winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show.

He wrote, “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.”

Onanuga’s comments came hours after Tinubu hosted the victorious team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

At the event, each player and member of the coaching crew was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

In addition, Tinubu announced a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player and $50,000 for each member of the technical crew.

He also promised three-bedroom apartments for all team members in the Renewed Hope Housing Estate located in the Federal Capital Territory.

Onanuga’s comparison between the Super Falcons’ rewards and BBNaija’s prize money ignited a flurry of mixed reactions on X, with many Nigerians weighing in on the appropriateness of the gesture and the analogy.

(punch)