Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide and prominent social analyst, has praised Nigeria’s recent shift from being Africa’s largest petrol importer as a milestone reflecting growing economic autonomy and industrial advancement.
During a press tour of the Dangote Refinery last Friday, Omokri noted that South Africa has overtaken Nigeria as the continent’s leading petrol importer. Meanwhile, Nigeria has made significant strides in refining and exporting petroleum products, marking a transformative phase in its energy industry.
He underscored that Nigeria’s position as the foremost exporter of refined petroleum products in West Africa signals a fundamental shift in the nation’s fuel commerce.
“Nigeria has undergone a remarkable transformation. We now lead West Africa in petroleum product exports,” Omokri stated.
He also stressed that genuine national prosperity should be gauged by a country’s productive output and the real purchasing power of its citizens, rather than just nominal income statistics.
“What truly matters for Nigerians is the strength of the naira in terms of actual buying power. The currency appreciates when we prioritize production and exports, not when we depend excessively on imports,” he explained.
Omokri urged policymakers and labor organizations to advocate for strategies that strengthen manufacturing, increase industrial productivity, and expand export capacity, rather than focusing solely on wage hikes that are not backed by increased output.
“It is far more advantageous for Nigerians to earn ten thousand naira with substantial purchasing power-enough to afford essentials like food, shelter, and transport-than to receive a million naira without corresponding economic productivity,” he emphasized.
In conclusion, Omokri affirmed that Nigeria’s transition from import dependency to domestic production and export growth is crucial for restoring the naira’s value and building a robust, production-driven economy.