An Osun State-based politician and member of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lukman Abimbola Bello, has defended the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu, saying Nigerians must endure the current hardship as the country moves towards what he described as a period of prosperity.
Bello, who spoke on Adamimogo 105.1FM’s Inside Scoop, said the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market were necessary steps to address longstanding distortions and corruption in the economy.
According to him, the subsidy regime had created opportunities for fraudulent practices in the petroleum sector, while multiple foreign exchange windows allowed some individuals to profit from arbitrage.
“The removal of the subsidy is not to punish Nigerians because we are all living in the same country and we want the betterment of our people,” Bello said.
He argued that the reforms had also reduced the government’s debt-servicing burden and enabled the country to clear about $10bn in foreign exchange obligations.
Bello pointed to ongoing infrastructure projects as evidence that increased government revenue was being channelled into development.
He cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the proposed 700-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, as well as road projects linking Osogbo and Ibadan, among others.
He acknowledged that Nigerians were facing severe economic pressure, but said the situation required patience.
“Rome was not built in a day. For us to have a better future, we must endure for some time,” he said.
Bello said he had also been forced to reduce his personal expenses because of the economic situation, including cutting down on travel and adjusting his children’s schooling to what he could afford.
He disclosed that he knew someone whose children had been out of school for two terms because of financial difficulties.
Despite this, the APC chieftain maintained that the reforms were beginning to produce results and urged Nigerians to give the government more time.
He cited electricity supply as one area where he believed improvements were becoming noticeable, arguing that the situation had improved in some areas over the past few months.
Bello also expressed optimism about the country’s security situation, saying insecurity had not been completely eliminated but had reduced significantly.
He, however, sympathised with families affected by kidnapping and prayed for the safe release of victims still in captivity.
On efforts to reduce transportation costs, Bello praised the Federal Government’s Compressed Natural Gas initiative, saying the expansion of CNG conversion centres and the availability of more CNG-powered vehicles could help ease pressure on commuters.
He nevertheless argued that the responsibility for cushioning economic hardship should not rest solely with the Federal Government.
According to him, state and local governments also have significant roles to play because Nigeria operates a three-tier system of government.
Bello accused some state governments of failing to properly utilise funds and interventions made available by the Federal Government to ease the burden on citizens.
He alleged that some states failed to deploy funds meant for transportation interventions effectively, while others allegedly diverted ecological funds from projects such as river dredging and drainage construction to other infrastructure projects.
He argued that such funds should be used for their intended purposes, particularly at a time when several communities were facing flooding and other environmental challenges.
Bello said the effectiveness of government ultimately depended on the willingness of elected representatives at every level to respond to the immediate needs of their constituents.
He listed councillors, local government chairmen, state legislators, governors, members of the National Assembly and the President as representatives who should maintain a functional feedback mechanism with the people.
He, however, said citizens also had a responsibility to demand accountability and ensure that public resources were directed towards projects that genuinely served the wider population.
“People need, this is rainy season, so much flood here and there. Ecological fund is there. Dredge the rivers. Construct drains, drainages, good ones, so that there won’t be any problem,” he said.
Bello maintained that Nigeria’s current challenges were complex but expressed confidence that continued implementation of the reforms, coupled with greater accountability across all levels of government, would eventually improve living conditions.
“Government will always try their best,” he said.
