Gov Mbah Backs President Tinubu on Subsidy Removal, Says Nigeria Cannot Afford to Reverse Course

…highlights achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare; projects 660MW electricity generation and 24-hour power supply

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Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s removal of petrol subsidy, insisting that reversing the policy would undermine economic stability, discourage investment and jeopardise the country’s long-term economic prospects.

Mbah said Nigeria should move beyond the debate over subsidy removal and focus on ensuring that the benefits of the policy translate into job creation, wealth generation and improved living conditions for citizens.

The governor stated this on Wednesday at the Meet the Candidates town hall meeting organised by Afia TV in Enugu, where he also defended his administration’s performance and outlined an ambitious vision for the state’s development over the next four years.

“If you reintroduce fuel subsidy today, we will lose ten times whatever we are currently trying to gain in terms of the removal of subsidy,” he said, warning that a return to the previous arrangement could worsen poverty and place additional pressure on the naira.

“We cannot go back to subsidy. And I do not think it is in the interest of the country for us to even debate that,” the governor declared.

He argued that reopening the subsidy debate could create uncertainty in the investment climate, particularly in the energy sector, and discourage investors who require policy consistency to make long-term commitments.

According to Mbah, Nigeria should concentrate on attracting private investment and ensuring that the benefits of economic reforms reach households through employment opportunities, increased productivity and targeted social interventions.

He expressed optimism about the country’s investment outlook, citing developments in the stock market and the inflow of foreign portfolio and direct investments. He attributed the improving investment climate to the stabilisation of key macroeconomic indicators under the Tinubu administration.

The governor also defended the removal of petrol subsidy on equity grounds, arguing that the previous system disproportionately benefited wealthy Nigerians rather than the vulnerable populations it was intended to support.

He identified cash transfers and other targeted support programmes as measures aimed at cushioning the effects of the reform, adding that the Federal Government’s initiative to provide seed capital to 1,000 beneficiaries in each ward across the country could help improve productivity and economic participation.

Turning to his administration’s performance in Enugu State, Mbah said his government had made significant progress across infrastructure, education, healthcare, transportation and other critical sectors, in line with its campaign promises.

He challenged residents to compare the state’s development trajectory before his inauguration with the projects and initiatives undertaken since he assumed office.

“Let us imagine the Enugu we knew four years ago. Let us just imagine an Enugu without Hotel Presidential. Let us imagine an Enugu without the International Conference Centre. Let us imagine an Enugu without Enugu Air,” he said.

The governor also highlighted the transport terminals, 268 Smart Green Schools, 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres, Enugu International Hospital and compressed natural gas-powered buses as key components of his administration’s development agenda.

He added that ongoing initiatives and investments involving Nigergas formed part of the broader effort to strengthen the state’s infrastructure and economic capacity.

However, Mbah said his administration’s ambitions extended beyond the projects already delivered, insisting that the next phase of development would focus on expanding opportunities, improving public services and positioning Enugu for greater economic competitiveness.

He projected that the state could generate 660 megawatts of electricity within the next four years, with the ambition of achieving 24-hour power supply to homes and businesses.

According to him, reliable electricity would reduce the cost of doing business, lessen dependence on diesel-powered generators and create a more favourable environment for industrial growth.

The governor also envisaged a future in which residents could access electricity at a projected rate of ₦120, supported by the state’s coal resources.

In the transportation sector, he said his vision included expanding mobility options beyond the existing CNG-powered buses to incorporate a monorail system. He also expressed the ambition of enabling direct international air connections from Enugu to destinations in the United Kingdom, the United States and other parts of the world.

Mbah urged residents to support the continuation of his administration’s development agenda, arguing that sustaining the progress recorded so far would be essential to achieving the state’s long-term objectives.

He called on the electorate to defend the gains of his first term and support his re-election bid, maintaining that the state must sustain its development momentum rather than lower the standards already established.

“If these imaginations capture our fancy, then we have a duty to fight for it,” he said.

“We do have a duty to continue to make sure that the bar does not come down and that the standard we have set in Enugu is sustained.”

The governor’s remarks placed economic reform, infrastructure development and continuity of governance at the centre of his message, as he made a case for sustaining his administration’s policies while pursuing more ambitious targets for Enugu State’s future.