Governor Dapo Abiodun said President Bola Tinubu inherited an administration that was almost in comatose. 

The governor stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

He said, “The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has been very bold and audacious. They have taken the bull by the horns. They have done what no other government has done in the history of Nigeria.

“They have had to deregulate to save Nigerians and they deregulated at a time when the pricing of petroleum was at the largest margin. But knowing fully well, they either did that then or the country would be brought to its knees. Like they said, there can’t be any gain without pain. He has inherited an administration that was almost comatose.”

Meanwhile, Governor Abiodun expressed confidence in the President Tinubu’s administration, saying a turnaround is close, despite the fuel subsidy removal and liberalisation of the naira, which has seen an increase in the costs of living.

The said he is optimistic the country would be better off in the long run, urging Nigerians to be patient with the Tinubu government.

He said, “You know our President, besides being a former governor and a senator, he is also an accountant,” he said on the current affairs show.

“So, he is someone who is very spot on and all hands are on deck to turn this economy around. We are very hopeful and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Recall that President Tinubu came to power in May – taking over from Muhammadu Buhari – and quickly introduced economic reforms aimed at restoring public finances and attracting more foreign investment. 

His administration has ended a fuel subsidy and floated the naira currency — but in the short term, Nigerians are faced with the challenge of hike in fuel prices and higher food costs.

In the wake of the subsidy removal and the hike in the cost of living, the Tinubu government offered a package, including a 35,000 naira ($45) a month pay increase for six months for federal employees, a temporary suspension of VAT on diesel and social security cash transfers to the poorest Nigerians among others.

These initiatives were introduced by the government amid threats by the labour unions to embark on nationwide strike.