RismadarVoice Reporters
September 25, 2026
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has defended the removal of petrol subsidy, saying government support should be directed towards production rather than subsidising fuel consumption.
Otti, speaking during an interview on Friday, maintained that his opposition to consumption subsidies had remained consistent over the years.
“I’ve always been consistent on subsidy, and I’ve written extensively,” Otti said.
The governor recalled advocating the removal of petrol subsidy during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when global demand and oil prices had fallen sharply.
He said he considered the period an opportunity for Nigeria to discontinue the subsidy regime.
“I also refer you to my back-page columns in ThisDay, including, I believe, that one that I wrote in 2020 during the COVID. And at that time, nobody was buying oil. I said it was a good time to remove the subsidy,” he said.
Otti argued that government intervention should support productive activities capable of expanding economic output rather than subsidising consumption.
“So I’ve always held the view that once you subsidise consumption, what you get is exactly what you wanted. So I don’t have a problem supporting production, but consumption should not be subsidised,” he said.
The governor also acknowledged the political debate surrounding petrol prices as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election.
“You know, as the election approaches, people will be making all sorts of arguments. But removing the subsidy was the right thing to be done,” Otti said.
He added that he remained opposed to restoring the previous petrol subsidy regime.
“I don’t think anybody who is praying that subsidy returns means well for the country. That’s where I stand,” he said.
Otti’s remarks come amid renewed political debate over petrol subsidy following recent increases in pump prices and proposals by some political figures for new forms of government intervention to reduce fuel costs.
The governor has previously publicly defended petrol subsidy removal while arguing that the economic pressures arising from the policy should be addressed through measures that support vulnerable households and productive economic activities.
