The Presidency has taken a swipe at opposition politicians, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following a new global technology ranking that placed Lagos as the world’s fastest-growing emerging tech ecosystem.

Reacting to the ranking in a post on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said opposition figures who habitually rely on negative statistics about Nigeria would be displeased by the latest international recognition.

“ADC must not read this,” Onanuga wrote, adding that “desperate politicians, always on the lookout for negative statistics, will be unhappy that Tinubu’s Nigeria has recorded a global tech recognition.”

His remarks followed the release of a global list by Global Statistics, which ranked Lagos number one among the world’s top 20 fastest-growing emerging technology ecosystems.

According to the ranking, Lagos topped the list ahead of major cities such as Istanbul in Türkiye, Pune and Mumbai in India and Belo Horizonte in Brazil, among others across Asia, Africa and South America.

Onanuga framed the recognition as a rebuttal to what he described as persistent negative narratives about Nigeria’s economic and governance outlook, often advanced by opposition politicians.

The ADC has been among opposition parties critical of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly on economic reforms and governance issues.

However, the latest ranking underscores Lagos’ growing prominence in the global technology space, reflecting the strength of its startup ecosystem, innovation capacity and expanding role in the international digital economy. (The Nation)