Stakeholders from Nigeria’s North-West region have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s bold reforms in the oil and gas sector, describing them as pivotal steps toward economic revival and national cohesion.
Speaking at the first Citizens Engagement Conference in Kaduna, participants drawn from the seven North-West states — Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara lauded the government’s commitment to deregulation, subsidy removal, and the revitalisation of refineries, saying these measures are already unlocking private investments and positioning the nation for sustainable growth.
The three-day conference, themed “The Positive Impacts of Oil and Gas Reforms by the Asiwaju Administration,” brought together traditional rulers, academics, policymakers, civil society leaders, and entrepreneurs to evaluate ongoing reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Co-convener, Mallam Nasir Abdulquadri, described the PIA as a “turning point” for Nigeria’s energy landscape, commending President Tinubu’s “uncommon courage” in driving deregulation and transparency despite the temporary discomforts of reform.
“These reforms are not without pain, but every meaningful change carries the weight of transition,” Abdulquadri noted, urging vigilance against internal sabotage and external manipulation.
In his presentation titled “Amplifying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda Through Regulatory Excellence and Upstream Oil and Gas Performance: Catalyst for Sustainable Economic Prosperity Beyond 2027,” Professor Usman Muhammed of Kaduna State University’s Department of Political Science highlighted data showing a strong correlation between oil production and GDP growth.
He credited the administration for improved regulatory clarity, transparency, and the operationalization of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), which are fostering inclusion and local economic development.
“Regulatory excellence is central to national prosperity,” he said, adding that sustained institutional reform, innovation, and transparency will amplify the Renewed Hope Agenda beyond 2027, translating reforms into jobs, affordable energy, and equitable growth for all Nigerians.
Participants, while commending the administration, urged government to sustain the gains by scaling up oil production to meet domestic demand, strengthen institutional accountability, and deploy advanced technology to combat oil theft.
They emphasized that a revitalized oil and gas sector must translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ living standards, job creation, and price stability across the energy value chain.
