Vice-President Kashim Shettima says over $25 billion is used to import petroleum products into the country every year.
Shettima spoke on Thurday at the Vanguard Economic Discourse
themed ‘Reforms in the Era of Global Economic Uncertainties: Whither Nigeria’.
The vice-president, who was represented by Tope Fasua,
special adviser on economic affairs, assured that this would change in the
future.
The development comes five days after Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, said Nigeria will no longer need to import petrol by June.
Speaking at the event, Shettima said the country will stop
importing the product due to the backing of the government and the revamping of
state-owned refineries.
“With the support our government is lending to our private
sector-led oil refineries and rejuvenation of some of the state-owned
facilities. The $25 billion we spend yearly importing petroleum and other
refined products will soon be a thing of the past allowing the naira a
much-deserved breath,” he said.
Shettima said the country will not hesitate to backtrack and
review policies if it would impose undue hardship on Nigerians as it “has been
seen over time”.
“So this
administration is not out to make the life of Nigerians tougher, but to make
the Nigerian economy sustainable, and the lives of our people more enjoyable,”
Shettima said.
“Rest assured, ladies and gentlemen, that the next few years
will be full of positive achievements. They include improvements in the
standards of living, higher productivity, food security, bumper harvests and
remarkable achievement with the guidance and grace of Almighty God.”
Speaking further, he said President Bola Tinubu has been
able to secure more than $20 billion in potential investments into the country,
“including $14 billion from India, $250 million from the Netherlands, and
commitments of $500 million for lithium development in Nasarawa state”.
Shettima said the country has secured another $500 million
from Germany into renewables, adding that the Siemens power sector projects
will positively impact energy sufficiency in due course.
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