The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has expressed that the federal government’s removal of the petrol subsidy is advantageous for state governments.
During a project inspection in Imo State on Monday, January 13, commemorating the first anniversary of his second term, the governor noted that the removal of the subsidy has resulted in increased financial resources for state governments, facilitating their developmental initiatives.
Uzodimma emphasized the importance of state governments demonstrating their capability to the public, as they now receive enhanced allocations due to subsidy removal.
He said, “In reconciling the negative effects of the fuel subsidy removal and the benefits in terms of socio-infrastructure, social benefits, and then the ease of doing business occasioned by the provision of the enabling infrastructure, I think it is a blessing.
“It is a direct blessing, it is not a disguise to the sub-nationals because more monies are now coming to states and state governments must do things to show citizens that they are able to do these things because they now get more monies as a result of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.”
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North West Zone, Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, has stated that the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of naira was necessary so the nation could save more funds.
He stated that the money saved From President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies is being diverted into developmental projects like infrastructure, agriculture, health and other critical sectors of the society.
Yakasai argued that the effect of fuel subsidy removal is gradually manifesting positively to the advantage of Nigerians.
He stated this while flagging off the distribution of rice palliative to residents of Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
According to him, “The hardship, yes, is caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the Naira, but these are programs that Mr President took a bold step because since the inception of this democracy from 1999 to date, we have been giving out this subsidy and it’s only going to the few.
“So Mr President took this bold step because we need to save more funds as we are doing now so that we can do other things, other developmental projects like infrastructure, like in agriculture, health and other critical sectors of the society. So we were so surprised that within all these years, none of this refinery has come on board. But within this administration of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we’ve seen Port Harcourt Refinery come on board.
“For years, our refineries were down and they have started working today which means they refused to repair the refineries. How much is the price for petrol now? It is dropping down by the day.
“This is a remarkable feat and it’s making its production at 60 per cent capacity. Just two weeks ago, the GMD of NNPC, Mele Kyari, also came out to say that the Warri Refinery is running and he has taken media houses, he has taken you people there, he has taken well-meaning Nigerians there to go and verify. So these are all things to tell you that His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is so determined to make sure he turns around the fortune of this country.”
