Former presidential aide Laolu Akande has hailed the end of fuel importation in Nigeria as a significant national achievement, describing it as a major step toward economic self-sufficiency.
Speaking on My Take, a segment of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Akande commended the administration’s progress in key sectors, emphasizing the importance of balanced assessments of government actions.
Akande noted that Nigeria is now emerging from the unsustainable era of fuel importation despite being an oil-producing nation. While acknowledging that fuel prices remain higher than they were before May 2023, he maintained that the administration should receive credit for the gradual price reduction.
He said, “It is a good thing that Nigeria is almost out of the unbelievable situation where we were importing fuel in a country that produces crude oil in abundance.
“The era of subsidy and its attendant gargantuan corruption seems to have gone, and we pray gone for ever!
“So today in Nigeria, while we work harder to improve affordability, we now have PMS price going down marginally, though still higher than it was in May 2023.
“The Tinubu administration certainly got all the knocks for the aftermath of subsidy. Fair is fair, let us applaud the govt on this and ask that more should be done where possible to keep the pricing down & also for FG to be more aggressive on the alternative to PMS.”
“The Tinubu administration must get credit because it certainly got the knocks after the subsidy was removed. So, fair is fair,” he stated, highlighting the initial backlash the government faced when fuel subsidy was discontinued.
Turning to health sector improvements, Akande praised Professor Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, for his commitment to improving healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable Nigerians. He highlighted two major policies initiated under Pate’s leadership:
Free cesarean operations for pregnant women across the country, easing financial burdens on families.
Federal government coverage of 80% of the cost of kidney dialysis for indigent Nigerians, ensuring that life-saving treatments remain accessible.
Akande urged the administration to follow through on the National Health Insurance reforms initiated under the Buhari-Osinbajo presidency to further improve healthcare accessibility.
Akande expressed optimism about the leadership of Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, noting that Nigerians expect significant progress under his tenure. He acknowledged that the education sector had faced “national confusion” under the previous administration but lauded the new minister’s “right tone, attitude, and understanding of the core issues.”
The former presidential aide also highlighted a positive development in the trade and investment sector. He referenced Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister for Trade and Investment, who recently reported that over $50 billion has been injected into the Nigerian economy, signaling increased investor confidence.
Akande commended Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for her aggressive fight against counterfeit drugs and substandard food products. He recalled a recent breakthrough in which:
NAFDAC uncovered the sale of USAID-donated drugs in Lagos and Abia markets, preventing them from being diverted for profit.
The agency identified counterfeit cancer drugs in circulation, a major public health concern.
He compared NAFDAC’s effectiveness to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) under Major-General Buba Marwa, noting that the anti-drug agency has regained momentum in combating drug-related crimes.
Akande urged Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to expedite the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local governments. He expressed concern over the delay in enforcing this ruling, which is crucial for grassroots development.
While acknowledging Barrister Nyesom Wike’s efforts in physical infrastructure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Akande called on him to prioritize human capital development and social services. He stressed that the FCT’s progress must go beyond roads and buildings to include education, healthcare, and economic empowerment programs.
