VIDEO: “It’s Too Early to Judge Tinubu’s Economic Performance”, Gov. Otti Backs Subsidy Removal

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has stated that it is premature to pass judgment on the economic performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which is just under two years in office.

Governor Otti made this assertion during an interview on Arise Television, where he carefully avoided direct criticism of the federal government, citing his access to the President for private dialogue.

“This is one question I may not be able to answer,” Otti said when asked to assess Tinubu’s economic performance. “Because I have access to him, and I can always discuss with him. Today is just 23 months into the administration—it’s still early days.”

The governor also declined to comment on the controversial political situation in Rivers State, including the declaration of a state of emergency, maintaining that it is not his place to speak on matters involving other states or federal institutions.

However, on matters of economic policy, Governor Otti expressed strong support for the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira. According to him, the fuel subsidy regime was fraught with corruption and had long outlived its usefulness.

“Subsidy removal was long overdue. It was a scam. We just needed to do something else,” he asserted.

On the floating of the naira, Otti acknowledged that although the policy may have been implemented at a difficult time, he believes it is the right step for long-term economic stability.

“Floating the naira and removing fuel subsidy at the same time may have been tough, but if we stay consistent, the economy will rebound,” he said.

Governor Otti also addressed the rising inflation rate, which currently hovers around 24%, admitting that the figures are grim. He warned, however, that unless Nigeria addresses its overreliance on imports, inflation will continue to rise.

“We are not producing enough. We import everything—from toothpicks to bottled water. That puts enormous pressure on foreign exchange,” Otti said. “The hardship is unfortunate, but if we don’t make sacrifices now, we’ll pay a higher price later.”

He emphasized that the long-term solution lies in building a productive economy that reduces dependency on imports and encourages local manufacturing and exports.

“Saying ‘it’s unfortunate’ won’t put food on the table, but neither will complaining without action. We must create an environment where productivity thrives.”

Governor Otti’s remarks reflect his broader policy philosophy of combining tough economic reforms with long-term development strategies, even in the face of immediate hardship.