Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the latter’s residence in Abeokuta.

Mr Abiodun, who addressed journalists after the meeting, which lasted for about one hour, declined comments on the details of the meeting.

However, he spoke on the removal of fuel subsidy, describing the measure as an initiative that would engender great gains in the nation.

The governor, who lamented that the country lost up to N4 trillion annually to the subsidy regime, stated that the step was long overdue.

He assured Nigerians that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration would put the fund gained from the subsidy removal to better use to revamp the country’s economy.

“One of the most laudable of those initiatives was his decision to remove subsidy on petroleum products.

“As controversial as that initiative has been, no one can deny the fact that it is a very welcome initiative.

“That was a subsidy that Nigeria could no longer afford and one that the budget could not accommodate beyond June 2024,” he said.

While noting that the initiative came with some discomfort, Mr Abiodun described them as necessary and temporary.

“Of course, it was a decision that also came with a bit of pain, but like they say, there is no gain without some pain,” the governor said.

He urged Nigerians to endure the hardship of the increase in the price of fuel and other goods, saying, “the benefits of the subsidy removal outweigh the pains.”

Mr Abiodun explained that his administration had rolled out a series of palliatives for civil servants, pensioners and other state residents to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal.

He stated that his administration had, on Monday, approved the payment of N10,000 cash for all public servants and pensioners in the state.

Mr Abiodun, who stated that his government also approved payment of hazard allowance for all health and medical personnel in the state, assured that the gesture would take effect from July.

“We believe that these initiatives should immediately ameliorate the pains our people are feeling, and I’m sure that you will see that other state governments are doing the same,” he said.

(NAN)