Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun, has called on Nigerians to endure the inconveniences caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.
Abiodun spoke with journalists after a meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital, on Tuesday.
The governor described the subsidy removal as an initiative that would bring about “great gains” as he revealled that the country lost up to four trillion naira annually to the subsidy regime.
He assured Nigerians that the Bola Tinubu led-administration would put all the money saved from the subsidy removal into better use and revamp the country’s economy as he maintained that the government started well by rolling out a few initiatives.
The governor argued that as controversial as the subsidy removal initiative is, no one can deny the fact that it is a welcome idea.
“That was a subsidy that Nigeria could no longer afford and one that the budget could not accommodate beyond June 2024. It was a subsidy not even in the budget beyond June 2023,” the governor said.
“More importantly, it was costing Nigeria about N4 trillion per annum, a fund that Nigeria did not have but had to borrow. It was a fund that could be better expended to other uses for the benefit of the citizens.” He said.
While admitting that the measure came with some discomfort, Governor Abiodun described them as “necessary and temporary”.
“Of course, it was a decision that also came with a bit of pain, but like they say, there is no gain without some pain,” he said.
