From Sylvia Udegbunam Enugu 

Governor of Enug State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has doubled down in his support for the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying it was undebatable and inconceivable for anyone to imagine a return to the old order.

Mbah spoke at the “Meet the Candidates” town hall meeting organised by Afia TV in Enugu on Wednesday, where he also said that his administration had delivered good governance to the people of the state across all sectors.

He described it as a pathetic misconception of the country’s situation and the direction it was headed for anyone to talk about the reintroduction of fuel subsidy.

“If you reintroduce fuel subsidy today, we will lose ten times whatever we are currently trying to gain in terms of the removal of subsidy. The poverty rate that you are going to experience will be very high because the naira would be automatically devalued.

“We cannot go back to subsidy. And I do not think it is in the interest of the country for us to even debate that.

“Again, we should not even debate it because we do not want to send a signal to prospective investors that we are contemplating it. That would take us back. It is going to create panic in the system. It is going to get investors to pull back.

“Those that are coming in today to invest in that sector will become jittery. So, it is not even a subject to debate. It is something that we have moved on from, and we should be thinking about how to ensure that the natural benefits cascade to the households, create jobs and generate wealth for our people,” he said.

He said the nation should focus on how to further encourage private capital to flow, noting the growth the nation had experienced in the stock exchange space.

He added that Tinubu’s policies had stabilised the macro indicators, thus encouraging foreign direct investment.

“You can see quite a lot of funds coming into our country, not just portfolio investments, but also direct investments. It is also going to strengthen because the macro indicators are right,” he stated.

Mbah maintained that whereas fuel subsidy removal enables the government to target the less privileged, fuel subsidy as earlier practised benefited the rich more.

“By the way, I do not think the subsidy we practised before the President removed it was even the right one for the country because even the people we were looking at benefiting from it were only insignificantly benefiting from it. It was largely beneficial to our wealthy folks.

“But now, you can almost notice that the government is doing that in targeting the poor, using proceeds from subsidy removal. The government is aggressive on cash transfers. There is also the programme where the government is targeting 1,000 persons per ward across the entire country to be able to provide seed capital for them to become productive,” he added.

Meanwhile, on his stewardship so far, Mbah said his administration had kept faith with the people of Enugu State, delivering good governance across all sectors in line with his campaign manifesto.

He said the people of the state only needed to imagine where the state was before his inauguration as governor and where it is currently headed.

“Let us imagine the Enugu we knew four years ago. Let us just imagine an Enugu without Hotel Presidential. Let us imagine an Enugu without the International Conference Centre. Let us imagine an Enugu without Enugu Air. Let us imagine Enugu without the transport terminals, the 268 Smart Green Schools, 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres.

“You do not want them to imagine an Enugu without the International Hospital. You do not want them to imagine an Enugu without the CNG buses, the Nigergas. I think the list is endless.

“But I even think that we can stretch that imagination further because the work ahead will be more profound. Just imagine an Enugu where our children are receiving education that prepares them for the world because they have been imbued with evolving 21st-century skills. Imagine again an Enugu where you do not have any part of the city with an unpaved road.

“Also, imagine an Enugu in four years’ time that generates 660 megawatts of electricity; where we are able to provide 24-hour power supply; where you cannot come into your house and have the light off; and where people can run their businesses for a whole week without worrying about the cost of diesel. Just imagine an Enugu where you generate electricity and the people of Enugu are buying that at 120 naira because they own the coal that feeds the power plant.

“Imagine an Enugu where you now have to ride, not just on our CNG buses, but you have the monorail that can take you from point A to point B. Imagine an Enugu where you can fly from here to the United Kingdom, to the United States and other parts of the world,” he charged the electorate.

He urged the people to keep faith with the journey of greatness, growth and development, defending the gains of his first term and guaranteeing the promises of his second term by working for his re-election.

“If these imaginations capture our fancy, then we have a duty to fight for it. We do have a duty to continue to make sure that the bar does not come down and that the standard we have set in Enugu is sustained,” he concluded.

From Francis Sadhere, Delta 

Delta State has emerged as the best-performing state in liquidity rating among Nigeria’s 36 states, Commissioner for Finance, Sir Fidelis Okenmor Tilije, has disclosed.

Tilije attributed the development to fiscal discipline, improved internally generated revenue and prudent management of public funds by the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

The commissioner made the disclosure during a meeting with management and staff of the Ministry of Finance in Asaba, where he outlined the financial policies and strategies supporting the state government’s development agenda.

He said the administration’s M.O.R.E Agenda had strengthened the state’s financial position through responsible borrowing practices, revenue diversification and reforms designed to improve public financial management.

According to him, Delta State is currently financing its 2026 procurement cycle and implementing major projects across the road, bridge, healthcare and education sectors without taking on new loans.

Tilije described the government’s zero-borrowing approach as a deliberate fiscal policy aimed at meeting development needs with available resources while preventing the accumulation of additional debt.

He explained that the expansion of the state’s revenue base, particularly through non-oil economic activities and improved internally generated revenue, had contributed significantly to its financial stability.

The commissioner stressed that the increase in IGR was not achieved through higher tax rates but through reforms that strengthened revenue collection, widened the tax net, improved compliance and checked leakages.

He added that the government was also working towards introducing more economically sustainable empowerment programmes to improve livelihoods, stimulate economic activities and create greater opportunities for residents.

On workers’ welfare, Tilije said the state had maintained regular salary payments to more than 60,000 public servants, with salaries consistently paid between the 24th and 25th of every month.

He also cited the institutionalisation of the 13th-month salary for public servants as evidence of the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and financial security.

In the health sector, the commissioner said the government had sustained free medical services for pregnant women and children below five years of age in government hospitals.

He noted that efforts were also ongoing to upgrade primary healthcare centres across the state to improve access to essential medical services.

Tilije assured residents that the administration would continue to prioritise fiscal responsibility, infrastructure development and investment in human capital, maintaining that prudent management of public resources remained central to achieving its development objectives.

He urged Deltans to support Governor Oborevwori’s re-election bid in 2027, expressing confidence that a continuation of the administration would enable it to consolidate its achievements and pursue further development across the state.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s bilateral relations with Germany, with renewed focus on economic cooperation, investment promotion, energy partnerships, and the effective implementation of existing agreements.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, made this statement during a  visit to the Ministry in Abuja on Monday by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nigeria, Stefan Rössel.

The minister welcomed the ambassador and his delegation, expressing Nigeria’s appreciation for Germany’s longstanding partnership and support for the country’s economic reform programme, particularly in the early stages of implementation.

He recalled that when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Nigeria, the Federal Government was pursuing significant economic reforms that required support from international partners, including Germany, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union.

The minister said Germany’s support has contributed to Nigeria’s progress in its reform efforts, adding that the country remains grateful for the cooperation and assistance it has received from its development partners.

He also acknowledged Germany’s role in facilitating high-level engagements between the two countries, particularly in trade, investment and energy cooperation, noting that discussions during the Nigerian President’s visit to Germany advanced talks on key energy agreements.

Senator Bagudu further commended Germany’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and international engagement, emphasising the importance of sustained partnerships to address evolving global economic and political challenges.

He noted that Nigeria and Germany had built a strong foundation for bilateral cooperation over the years, with significant opportunities to expand their partnership in areas that support economic growth and development.

The minister disclosed that discussions had covered cooperation involving €25 million and €300 million in export credit guarantees, identifying these as important areas for continued engagement as Nigeria seeks to expand investment opportunities and strengthen its capacity to utilise available resources effectively.

According to him, Nigeria’s reform efforts have created an opportunity to place greater emphasis on attracting investment, strengthening productive capacity, and translating international partnerships into tangible economic outcomes.

He assured the German ambassador that the ministry was prepared to work closely with the German government and its relevant institutions to deepen bilateral relations and broaden areas of mutual interest.

Earlier, Ambassador Rössel expressed appreciation for the warm reception he received, describing the relationship between Nigeria and Germany as strong and longstanding.

The ambassador, who arrived in Nigeria a few weeks ago, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to building on the partnership’s achievements and to exploring opportunities for further cooperation.

He acknowledged that both countries were operating in an increasingly complex global environment characterised by evolving strategic, political and economic challenges.

Despite these circumstances, Ambassador Rössel expressed confidence that the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Germany would provide a solid foundation for addressing emerging issues and sustaining mutually beneficial cooperation in the years ahead.

He also welcomed the ministry’s readiness to continue working with Germany, noting the importance of maintaining established partnerships while adapting to evolving circumstances.

In her remarks, the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, congratulated Ambassador Rössel on his appointment, welcomed him to Nigeria, and expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with him and with relevant German agencies.

She emphasised the importance of translating bilateral agreements and shared commitments into practical outcomes, noting that effective implementation remained critical to achieving the partnership’s objectives.

Dr Uzoka-Anite assured the ambassador that the ministry would continue to facilitate collaboration and support efforts to ensure joint initiatives progressed efficiently and delivered meaningful results.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Deborah Odoh, also welcomed the German delegation, describing Germany as a reliable partner whose technical expertise, knowledge exchange and experience had contributed to Nigeria’s development.

She said the ministry expects the ambassador’s tenure to create further opportunities to strengthen cooperation and to advance the longstanding relationship between the two countries.

The courtesy visit reaffirmed Nigeria and Germany’s shared commitment to sustaining bilateral engagement, deepening economic cooperation, and exploring opportunities for expanded investment and development collaboration.