Abia State Governor Alex Otti has backed the removal of petrol subsidy, arguing that restoring the policy would be harmful to Nigeria’s economy.
Otti made the remarks during an interview with Arise Television on Friday while discussing the country’s economic reforms and calls by some Nigerians and political figures for the return of fuel subsidy.
The governor said he had consistently opposed subsidising fuel consumption, stressing that government support should instead be directed towards production.
“I don’t have a problem supporting production, but consumption should not be subsidised,” Otti said.
He recalled that he had written in support of subsidy removal as far back as 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the global oil market was experiencing a sharp decline in demand.
Otti argued that subsidising consumption could encourage wasteful fuel use because consumers do not bear the full cost. He also maintained that the removal of the subsidy, although painful, was necessary.
“You know, as election approaches, people will be making all sorts of arguments, but removing the subsidy was the right thing to be done,” he said.
His comments come amid renewed debate over fuel prices and the impact of subsidy removal on Nigerians. Petrol prices have risen sharply in recent weeks amid higher global crude oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East, adding to cost-of-living pressures.
Otti had previously said the removal of the subsidy could free government resources for infrastructure and other productive activities, while acknowledging that the reform would have short-term economic consequences.
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