Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Subsidy Removal has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with economic growth. This growing interest reflects the recognition that subsidy removal does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Akwa Ibom State.

Within the context of Akwa Ibom State, this relationship carries particular significance. Organizations in this setting operate under a distinct combination of economic, regulatory, and market conditions that may amplify or dampen the effect of subsidy removal on economic growth, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While subsidy removal is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on economic growth within Akwa Ibom State remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to subsidy removal are helping or hindering economic growth — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Subsidy Removal on economic growth in Akwa Ibom State.
2. To assess the extent to which subsidy removal influences economic growth within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with subsidy removal in relation to economic growth.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing subsidy removal in order to improve economic growth.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of subsidy removal on economic growth in Akwa Ibom State?
2. To what extent does subsidy removal influence economic growth within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with subsidy removal in relation to economic growth?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize subsidy removal in order to improve economic growth?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of economics, this study has practical value for management teams within Akwa Ibom State seeking to understand how subsidy removal translates into measurable outcomes around economic growth. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Akwa Ibom State, focusing specifically on how subsidy removal relates to economic growth within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.