There was a time Nigerians were ready to pay N10k per litre of fuel but not available - Akpabio says

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, asserting that the government’s sweeping economic reforms are beginning to yield measurable gains, particularly in the petroleum sector, long plagued by instability.

Addressing recent developments, Akpabio pointed to a marked departure from the era of chronic fuel shortages, when desperate motorists endured hours in endless queues with no guarantee of supply.

He emphasized that such scenes, once a defining feature of Nigeria’s fuel distribution crisis, have significantly diminished under the current administration.

“Since we came on board, we have not had three to five kilometres of vehicles lined up at fuel stations to buy petrol,” he said.

“There was a time Nigerians were ready to pay as much as N10,000 per litre, yet the product was not available.”

According to Daily Trust, these remarks underscore the administration’s claim that structural reforms in the oil sector are beginning to ease long-standing supply bottlenecks.

Akpabio further argued that the growing availability of petrol nationwide, largely without the gridlock of queues, signals the effectiveness of policies designed to liberalise the downstream oil sector and attract private investment into refining and distribution.

He credited the Tinubu administration’s strategic collaboration with private investors for strengthening local refining capacity, a move he said has reduced Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel while improving supply chain stability.

“For the first time, we are producing what we consume and consuming what we produce. We are even exporting to other countries,” he added, projecting confidence in Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape.

The Senate President’s comments come at a time of heightened public scrutiny over rising fuel prices and broader economic pressures, including inflation and the escalating cost of living.

Despite these concerns, he maintained that the reforms, though challenging, are essential for building a resilient and self-sustaining economy.

He called on Nigerians to adopt a long-term perspective, expressing optimism that the full benefits of the government’s policies will become increasingly evident as the reforms mature.