Former Senator Shehu Sani has appealed to Saudi Arabia to direct its efforts toward building a second national grid for Nigeria, rather than focusing on economic reforms. His suggestion followed recent discussions between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Al Saud and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, where the Crown Prince expressed Saudi Arabia’s support for Nigeria’s economic transformation during the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh.

According to Bayo Onanuga, a spokesperson for President Tinubu, the two leaders explored multiple areas of collaboration, such as oil and gas, agriculture, infrastructure, and the creation of a Saudi-Nigeria Business Council. As part of the talks, Nigeria is pursuing a $5 billion bilateral trade agreement with Saudi Arabia, which would be a notable boost to the nation’s economy.

Sani, however, offered a different perspective on the focus of Saudi support. Taking to social media platform X, the former Kaduna Central Senator remarked, “Oil-rich Saudi promised to support Nigeria’s economic reforms. They should just build a second national grid for us and leave the issue of the reforms for now.”

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Sani’s statement reflects a critical point of view on the immediate needs of Nigeria’s infrastructure. The national grid has been a persistent bottleneck in Nigeria’s development, with frequent power outages affecting industries and households across the country. His remarks underscore the idea that reliable infrastructure, such as an enhanced power grid, may provide a more solid foundation for Nigeria’s economic reform ambitions.

As Nigeria seeks broader partnerships with Saudi Arabia, Sani’s call for a new national grid highlights ongoing debates about prioritizing sustainable infrastructure over other economic initiatives. The proposed bilateral agreement and collaboration efforts could mark a pivotal moment in Saudi-Nigerian relations, potentially impacting Nigeria’s power sector and overall economic landscape.