Arise News presenter Dr. Reuben Abati stated that no one from the presidency requested him or other members of the press to submit questions before the media chat with President Bola Tinubu.

Abati, a former presidential spokesman who also served as the moderator of the media chat - the first one by President Bola Tinubu since taking office - said, "Nobody asked us to submit questions."

He further mentioned that the President was unaware of the questions the press would ask before the interaction with them.

"Now, let me tell you about the atmosphere of it. Nobody asked us to submit questions. President Tinubu did not say, what are you going to discuss? In fact, we did not see him until he walked onto the set," Dr Abati observed.

"After we have been kept waiting there, well, don't let me complain. The president can keep you waiting. You cannot complain. Until he walked onto the set, that was when we asked him questions. And I was impressed with the fact that he was in very good spirits. And he was prepared to take on the encounter, and he was ready to talk to Nigerians."

Mr Tinubu assumed office on 29 May 2023 and has implemented tough economic policies that has caused Nigerians to witness the worst cost-of-living crisis in the country in a generation. The policies include the cancellation of petrol subsidies, floating of the naira and increase in electricity tariff.