Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, recently expressed his opinion on Saudi Arabia’s support for Nigeria’s economic reforms, suggesting that the country focus on a more immediate and practical form of assistance.

Sani’s comment came in response to reports of Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed Al Saud, assuring Nigeria of support for its economic transformation.

This assurance was made during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on the sidelines of the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, where the two leaders discussed various areas of collaboration.

A statement from Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the leaders talked about potential cooperation in sectors such as oil and gas, agriculture, infrastructure, and the creation of a Saudi-Nigeria Business Council.

One of the key items on the table was a proposed $5 billion bilateral trade facility aimed at enhancing economic ties between the two nations.

Additionally, it was noted that the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) had already made a significant investment in Nigeria, acquiring a 35.43% stake in Olam Agri, one of the country’s largest agricultural firms, with a $1.24 billion investment in 2022.

In his reaction, Sani took to X (formerly Twitter), where he jokingly suggested that while Saudi Arabia’s support for Nigeria’s reforms is appreciated, a more pressing need for the country would be the construction of a second national power grid.

Sani’s statement underscored the challenges Nigeria faces in its energy sector, with frequent power outages and inadequate infrastructure hindering the country’s growth.

He humorously added that the issue of economic reforms could be dealt with later, implying that addressing Nigeria’s energy needs should be a priority