Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has said Nigerians are currently paying less for petrol than motorists in the United Kingdom, citing his recent experience of buying fuel in London.
Okpebholo made the statement on Thursday at the “Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road” event in Edo State.
The governor said he visited London the previous week and compared the price of petrol there with what Nigerians currently pay.
According to him, the equivalent price of a litre of petrol in the UK was above N3,000 after currency conversion, while petrol in Nigeria was selling at around N1,400 per litre.
“Let me tell you, after conversion, it’s about N3,000-something for one litre of fuel,” Okpebholo said.
He argued that the comparison showed Nigerians were paying less for petrol and praised the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We are doing very well here. The President is stabilising the economy. He’s an economist,” the governor said.
Okpebholo acknowledged that the economic reforms being implemented by the Federal Government had been difficult but argued that they would eventually produce results.
Using an aircraft taking off as an analogy, he said passengers would not receive food until the plane reached cruising altitude, suggesting that Nigerians would eventually begin to see greater benefits from the reforms.
The governor also pointed to ongoing road construction as evidence of development under the Tinubu administration.
He particularly expressed support for the Federal Government’s intervention on the Benin-Asaba Road, which has faced deterioration and caused difficulties for motorists travelling between Edo and Delta states.
On the 2027 presidential election, Okpebholo expressed support for Tinubu’s continued presidency and questioned why anyone would seek to replace the President while he remains in office.
“Is Aso Rock vacant? Is Aso Rock vacant? So Aso Rock is not vacant,” he said.
