Abia State Governor Alex Otti has voiced his support for the removal of fuel subsidy, warning that any attempt to bring it back would damage the economy of Nigeria.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Arise Television on Friday, Otti stated that government funds should support economic production rather than subsidise everyday fuel consumption.
According to him, subsidising consumption encourages wasteful habits because motorists do not pay the true cost of what they use. He also described the old subsidy system as an unsustainable scam that was widely open to abuse. He added that taking away the subsidy was necessary for the long-term financial health of the country.
“Removing the subsidy was the right thing to be done, and I don’t think anybody who is praying that subsidy returns means well for the country…I don’t have a problem supporting production, but consumption should not be subsidized”, Otti
Governor Otti said his position on fuel subsidy removal is not new, that he has been advocating for subsidy removal during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when global oil prices dropped and presented a good platform for reform.
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