Seeds of reform, fruits of renewal

BY OLUBUKOLA AROWOLO VERHEIJEN

Every farmer knows that harvest does not come the same day you plant. You must first till the land, sow the seeds, and wait for rain.

That is what the administration has been doing in our nation over the past two years, sowing the seeds of reform so that the harvest of prosperity may reach every family, every farm, and every school.

Fiscal & Economic Reforms: “Clearing the Ground for Growth”

The fuel and foreign exchange subsidies were like weeds that drained our soil, consuming trillions that could have built schools, roads, and clinics.

By removing them, President Tinubu cleared the field so that new crops can grow.

These reforms have increased allocations to states, giving the Southwest more resources to invest in our communities, our infrastructure, and our people.

Power Sector Reforms: “No Harvest Grows Without Rain”

Electricity is the water that nourishes our economy.

Through the Presidential Metering Initiative, Millions of meters are being deployed across the country, ending estimated billing, promoting fairness, *helping measured consumption *and improving liquidity to attract fresh investment.

Targeted electricity subsidies ensure that the poorest households continue to access affordable power, while wealthier consumers pay their true share.

New investments through the Power Sector Debt Reduction and Distribution Reform Programmes (PPSDRP, DISREP, PPI) are expanding generation and transmission infrastructure.

Soon, our farmers and small businesses and industries will enjoy more reliable power to preserve produce, process cassava, and power small shops and factories. That is what harvest feels like.

Gas for Growth: “Fertilising the Soil”

Our land cannot produce well without fertiliser, just as our economy cannot grow well without energy.

The government is expanding pipelines such as the Escravos–Lagos System, delivering gas to industries in Sagamu, Ibadan, and Ilorin, with Ondo State directly benefiting as the network spreads across the Southwest.

Over $8 billion in new upstream gas investments have already been unlocked, with another $20 billion expected by 2029.

Gas is not just for electricity. It is the raw material for fertilisers, methanol, and petrochemicals. These are the nutrients that make our farmlands more productive, our factories busier, and our exports more competitive.

New gas projects will feed fertiliser and petrochemical plants that support farmers in Ondo, Ekiti, and Oyo, reducing fertiliser costs, boosting crop yields, and powering local agro-processing industries.

These value chains from gas to fertiliser, and farm to factory, will deliver:

• Cheaper food at home as local production expands and transport costs fall.

• Exportable agro-products such as cassava starch, cocoa butter, and ethanol that can compete globally.

This is how we turn gas beneath our soil into food on our tables and jobs in our communities.

Energy Independence – “Growing What We Consume”

A wise farmer does not keep buying from others what he can grow himself.

For too long, Nigeria exported crude oil only to import refined petrol at a higher cost. Those days are ending.

Through bold fiscal reforms, specifically the deregulation of private sector-led investments in refineries, Nigeria is now achieving self-sufficiency in petroleum products.

This transformation means that the fuel powering our cars and tractors is increasingly refined at home for Nigerians, by Nigerians creating and keeping the jobs here.

The recent announcement that the Dangote refinery will scale up operations marks a turning point. We are moving from being an import-dependent nation to a regional energy supplier.

This shift reduces foreign-exchange pressure, stabilises fuel prices, and opens new export revenue streams that strengthen the naira and the national budget.

For our farmers, available and more reliable fuel means lower logistics costs from farm to market.

For our civil servants, it means a more stable economy that protects purchasing power.

For our universities and polytechnics, it means new opportunities for research and innovation in refining technology, supply chain management, and energy systems.

We have planted reforms in our oil and gas fields, and the fruit is energy independence, new jobs, and pride in what we make with our own hands.

“The Harvest Is Near”

We acknowledge the hardships that come with reform.

The yam does not sprout the same day it is planted. But when it does, the farmer smiles because he remembers the sweat that made it grow is fruitful.

We have planted reforms that are already sprouting in energy, in jobs, in stability.

The rains are gathering: more investments, more local industries, more power.

The harvest will be rich, not just in Abuja and Lagos, but in every village and town across the Southwest and the nation.

From the farms of Ose to the classrooms of Ogbomoso, every Nigerian will soon feel the yield of the seeds we have sown.

Our planting season is ending. The harvest is near, and this time, everyone will eat from the bounty.

Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Hope is Renewed. This Hope is built on Action.

A speech delivered by Olubukola Arowolo Verheijen, special adviser to the president on energy, at the South West Summit in Akure, Ondo State, 29 October 2025