Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended the federal government’s economic reforms, claiming that the administration has ended chronic fuel scarcity and stabilized supply through the liberalization of the petroleum sector.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerians to remain patient with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms, asserting that the administration’s policies have successfully resolved the nation’s historical fuel scarcity crisis. Speaking on the tangible impacts of recent downstream sector liberalization, Akpabio highlighted the disappearance of the multi-kilometer queues that once defined Nigerian filling stations. He recalled the desperation of the past, noting, “Since we came on board, we have not had three to five kilometres of vehicles lined up at fuel stations to buy petrol. There was a time Nigerians were ready to pay as much as N10,000 per litre, yet the product was not available.”
The Senate President attributed the current accessibility of petroleum products to the government’s shift toward encouraging private sector participation and strengthening local refining capacity. He argued that these structural changes have significantly reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel, fostering a more self-sufficient energy market. “For the first time, we are producing what we consume and consuming what we produce. We are even exporting to other countries,” Akpabio added, pointing to the collaboration with private investors as a turning point for national energy security.
While acknowledging the persistent inflation and cost-of-living pressures facing the populace, Akpabio insisted that the current economic challenges are necessary hurdles on the path to long-term stability. He dismissed criticisms of the administration’s fiscal direction, maintaining that the benefits of the reforms would become increasingly evident as the local economy continues to adjust. He concluded by calling on citizens to view the government’s policies through a long-term lens, expressing confidence that the move toward a market-driven petroleum sector would ultimately yield a more prosperous and stable Nigeria.
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