Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has described the removal of fuel subsidies as a direct blessing to state governments.

During an inspection of some projects to celebrate the first year of his second term, Uzodinma said that more money now accrues to the coffers of state governments for development.

“In reconciling the negative effects of the fuel subsidy removal and the benefits in terms of socio-infrastructure, social benefits, and then the ease of doing business occasioned by the provision of the enabling infrastructure, I think it is a blessing.

“It is a direct blessing, it is not a disguise to the sub-nationals because more monies are now coming to states and state governments must do things to show citizens that they are able to do these things because they now get more monies as a result of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.”

Other governors have also echoed Uzodinma’s sentiments. In 2024, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule urged Nigerians to hold governors accountable for the improved allocation from the federation account.

During an interview, Sule highlighted the suffering and hardships Nigerians face, urging them to question their state governors about how they utilize the increased revenues from the federal government.

Sule had said, “Most of the time people are looking at some of the hard economic decisions the president has taken. That is his own style. Two decisions taken are bringing these economic reforms.

“One, is the subsidy removal and the second is the floating of the forex. These are the two major policies people keep on complaining about. And people are asking where the money is. The money is there. It is being given to various people and places and coming to the people in different ways.

“That is why I give you an example of what we are doing in Nasarawa. Yes, there is going to be difficulties; but instead of just looking at the federal government let the people hold every state governor responsible. What are you doing with the improved revenue you are getting? Until every state governor comes back and says we are doing this and that.

“President Tinubu doesn’t have land anywhere. The lands belong to the state. He can’t go and do agriculture anywhere, for example. They have already started construction of highways from Badagry to Calabar. The one from Calabar is coming to Abuja and the one from Badagry going to Sokoto State. There are many of them.