Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has expressed cautious support for President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira, but stopped short of giving a definitive assessment of Tinubu’s administration, citing the early stage of its tenure.
In his interview with Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni, Otti emphasized that the challenges facing Nigeria’s economy are deep-rooted and predate the current administration. He acknowledged that while the dual implementation of subsidy removal and currency floatation has intensified economic hardship, these policies were necessary corrections to long-standing fiscal imbalances.
Otti argued that inflation and high interest rates—24.23% and 27.50% respectively as of March 2025—are expected outcomes during an adjustment phase, but he remains optimistic about long-term recovery if the reform agenda stays on track. He also highlighted structural weaknesses, especially Nigeria’s overreliance on crude oil and low productivity, as key issues needing urgent attention.