Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has declared that Nigerians are “enjoying” relatively cheap petrol, saying motorists in the United Kingdom pay more than N3,000 for a litre.
Okpebholo made the claim on Thursday at the “Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road” event in Edo State, amid growing complaints over the high cost of petrol and other essentials.
The governor said he was in London the previous week and personally bought petrol, using the experience to compare fuel prices in both countries.
According to him, the British price, after conversion, amounted to more than N3,000 per litre, while petrol in Nigeria was selling for about N1,400.
“Let me tell you, after conversion, it’s about N3,000-something for one litre of fuel,” he said.
Okpebholo argued that the comparison showed that Nigerians were paying less for petrol despite the economic difficulties facing the country.
“We are doing very well here. The President is stabilising the economy. He’s an economist,” the governor said.
He acknowledged that the reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu had been painful but insisted that they would eventually yield results.
Using an aircraft analogy, Okpebholo said Nigerians should endure the current hardship until the economy reached what he called its “cruising level.”
“I want to let you know, very soon Nigeria will be on the cruising level. Nigeria will be on a cruising level,” he said.
The governor also cited ongoing road projects as evidence that the Tinubu administration was delivering on infrastructure, particularly the Federal Government’s intervention on the badly deteriorated Benin-Asaba Road.
He further threw his weight behind Tinubu’s bid to remain in office beyond 2027, challenging those preparing to contest against the President.
“Is Aso Rock vacant? Is Aso Rock vacant? So Aso Rock is not vacant,” Okpebholo said.
