Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has described President Bola Tinubu as a courageous leader for implementing key economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira, arguing that the current economic hardship in Nigeria stems from years of poor policy decisions rather than the reforms themselves. Otti made the remarks on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, while hosting First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu during her visit to Abia State to celebrate the state's Akwete weaving heritage in Ukwa East Local Government Area.
Addressing the First Lady, the governor asked her to convey his appreciation to President Tinubu for what he described as difficult but necessary economic decisions. "I want you to please thank him. Thank him for his courage. Thank him for his sacrifices. Some people may not understand; it takes a man with courage to do what he did in 2023: remove petroleum subsidy and follow suit with the floating of the naira," Otti said.
The governor argued that the reforms had significantly boosted the financial capacity of the federal, state and local governments by making more funds available for development. "What has that done? That has freed up a lot of funds that would have been used in financing consumption to doing other things in the federal government, in the states, and in the local governments," he said. He noted that as a result, many states are now able to pay salaries, build infrastructure, and empower people to produce rather than consume.
Otti acknowledged that the reforms had imposed short-term economic pains on Nigerians but maintained that such measures were necessary to restore long-term economic stability and growth. "Now, make no mistakes about it: every courageous decision, every courageous action has its own consequences, so if you remove subsidy and if you float the naira, it will take its toll, and over time the economy will begin to correct," he added. He argued that the hardship currently experienced by many Nigerians should be viewed as the consequence of years of unsustainable economic practices rather than the reforms themselves. "So what you see that people interpret as hardship today are a fallout of previous bad behaviour," he said.
Otti's comments come amid ongoing national debate over the impact of President Tinubu's economic reforms, which have been credited with increasing government revenues but have also contributed to rising costs of living and inflationary pressures across the country. The Abia governor's endorsement of the reforms represents a significant show of support from a South-East governor, as the region has been vocal about the economic challenges facing its residents. The First Lady's visit to Abia was part of her tour to promote the state's Akwete weaving heritage, a traditional craft that the government is seeking to preserve and promote as part of its cultural and economic development agenda.
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