Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has raised fresh concerns about Nigeria’s inability to translate its vast oil wealth into improved living standards, drawing sharp comparisons with oil-rich countries in the Middle East.…....
Speaking during an interview at Glitch Africa Studios on Monday, April 27, 2026, Sani reflected on his travels to countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, noting the stark contrast between their prosperity and Nigeria’s persistent economic hardship.
Sani questioned why a country as resource-rich as Nigeria continues to struggle while its counterparts with similar petroleum resources have achieved significant economic stability and infrastructure development.
“I have been to Kuwait, I have been to Qatar, I have been to Saudi Arabia and many of these Gulf oil-producing countries. You start wondering whether our oil is somehow different from theirs,” he said.
The remark underscores a broader debate about governance, resource management, and economic priorities in Nigeria, particularly in the wake of recent policy shifts such as the removal of fuel subsidies.
By invoking the example of Gulf economies where oil revenues have been channeled into infrastructure, social services, and sovereign wealth funds—the former senator implicitly questioned Nigeria’s policy choices and institutional efficiency.
His remarks add to ongoing national discourse about whether structural reforms, stronger institutions, or a rethinking of economic ideology are needed to align Nigeria’s resource wealth with the welfare of its citizens.
