|By Adejumo Adekunle
Senator Olamilekan Adeola, representing Ogun West Senatorial District, has strongly defended President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy and ongoing tax reforms, insisting the policies are rescuing Nigeria from fiscal collapse and saving the country more than N10 trillion every year.
Adeola spoke on Saturday at his 22nd thanksgiving service in Ilaro, Ogun State, where he confronted mounting criticism of the Federal Government’s economic direction and described the reforms as tough but unavoidable.
According to the senator, Nigeria was borrowing between N7 billion and N8 billion monthly to sustain fuel subsidy before its removal, a practice he said drained public finances and translated to over N10 trillion annually.
He said the policy shift has restored fiscal clarity and placed the economy on a more predictable path. Adeola added that while macroeconomic recovery remains a work in progress, improvements are already visible at the microeconomic level.
The lawmaker expressed confidence that Nigerians would soon feel the full impact of the reforms, stressing that the measures were necessary to rebalance the economy and stimulate sustainable growth.
Adeola also cited major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road and the Sokoto–Badagry Highway, as evidence of the administration’s long-term development agenda, describing them as investments that would redefine national productivity.
On tax reforms, he dismissed claims of friction between the Executive and the National Assembly, insisting that legislative oversight remains intact. He said any tax policy eventually adopted would reflect transparent deliberations and the collective decision of parliament in the national interest.
The senator further commended Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, highlighting projects such as the Gateway International Airport and the proposed seaport, which he said have strengthened the state’s economic outlook.
Supporting Adeola’s position, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Ishiaq Salako, said the reforms are already yielding tangible results, pointing to the disappearance of fuel queues nationwide and sustained efforts to tackle insecurity.
Salako disclosed that economic projections indicate a 4.49 per cent growth rate by 2026, with inflation expected to decline to 12.94 per cent. He attributed the outlook to subsidy removal and tax harmonisation, noting that the new tax laws aim to boost revenue, enhance efficiency and simplify compliance.
He urged critics and opposition parties to present credible alternatives, adding that the administration’s progressive policies continue to attract public support.
In a sermon titled “Gratitude That Raises Endorsement,” the Bishop of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Rt. Rev. Michael Oluwarombi, encouraged Adeola to sustain a life of thanksgiving, linking the senator’s political success to faith and gratitude, and urging him to remain steadfast.
