Cornelius Ojelabi, the All Progressives Congress chairman in Lagos State, has said President Bola Tinubu will not reverse the removal of petrol subsidy, describing the policy as a financial burden that had drained government resources.
Mr Ojelabi argued that the subsidy primarily favoured affluent Nigerians rather than the less privileged, insisting that its removal was necessary to free resources for development and improve the welfare of citizens.
He made the remarks on Wednesday at the inauguration of projects and empowerment programmes organised to mark the first anniversary of the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government chairman, Olalekan Olu-Akindipe.
According to him, the increase in federal allocations to local governments following the removal of the subsidy had provided councils with additional resources to undertake infrastructure projects and empowerment programmes.
“We are using it to touch the life of our people, improve educational facilities and provide infrastructural development. You can see the empowerment programme; that is the way to reduce poverty and lift the people from poverty,” he said.
Mr Ojelabi spoke against the backdrop of renewed calls by African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the restoration of a targeted fuel subsidy if elected president.
Mr Abubakar had argued that a targeted subsidy would ease the financial pressure on Nigerians and help restore their purchasing power.
However, Mr Ojelabi maintained that Lagos councils were deploying the increased allocations to improve infrastructure, education and the general welfare of residents in their respective communities.
“You can see what the state government and local governments are using the removal of fuel subsidy to do,” he said.
Speaking on Mr Olu-Akindipe’s first year in office, the Lagos APC chairman said the council chairman had justified the party’s decision to give him its ticket.
“After one year, as the party that produced you, we are proud that we didn’t make a wrong choice,” he said.
Mr Ojelabi said the council administration had undertaken projects aimed at linking communities, upgrading educational facilities and improving residents’ access to healthcare. He urged residents to anticipate further development, noting that Mr Olu-Akindipe had spent only 365 days in office and still had more to accomplish.
The APC chairman also said the Tinubu administration remained focused on improving the living conditions of Nigerians, although he acknowledged that significant challenges persisted, especially in the area of national security.
“Security-wise, Nigeria isn’t there yet, but Nigerians can see some improvements in economic and infrastructural development,” he said.
Former Defence Minister Musiliu Obanikoro also appealed to Nigerians to give Mr Tinubu another opportunity to deliver on his development agenda.
Mr Obanikoro commended the administration for its infrastructure investments, highlighting the Lagos-Calabar Highway and Lagos-Sokoto road as major projects with the potential to drive transformation across the country.
“Go to Victoria Island to see the Lagos-Calabar Highway; you will be amazed,” Obanikoro said.
He said the projects could significantly transform Nigeria and also applauded Mr Olu-Akindipe for providing equipment and financial support to residents as part of the council’s empowerment initiative.
Among the projects inaugurated were the Maracana Footbridge, Ajasa Motorable Bridge and Mokoya Motorable Bridge, as well as roads on Oluwa and Uweriro streets. The council also inaugurated the Oluwa Nursery and Primary School and three solar-powered boreholes located across Wards B, H and I.
As part of the empowerment programme, the council distributed 50 deep freezers, 50 industrial machines, 50 stone-cutting machines and 25 welding machines to beneficiaries.
Other items distributed included 25 shoemaking machines, 100 cake mixers, 25 vulcanising machines and 100 make-up kits with accessories.
The beneficiaries also received 50 solar generators, chairs, canopies and 3,000 10kg bags of rice, while widows and elderly residents were given N10,000 each.
