The Record Sale of Non- Crude Exports in Nigeria; A Positive Outcome of Economic and Industrial Reform of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR)

In the 1940's, Agriculture was the mainstay of Nigeria economy before the discovery of commercial quantity of Oil at Oloibiri on the 15th day of January 1956, an area known today as Ogbia Local Government, Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta region.

Ever since, the attention of the Federal and State government shifted to oil exploration and exportation, becoming the major source of government revenue, excluding other internally generated revenue coming into the Treasury and Federation account to fund budgets, projects, capital expenditure, recurrent expenditure and allocated for administration of government operations across the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T), Abuja.

With many Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the Oil and Gas sector without adequate attention on the agricultural sector. The Structural Adjustment Programme (1986) and other policies by different political administration were formulated over the years to resuscitate the dying agricultural sector and how diversification of the Nigeria economy can attract investors, create employment and job opportunities, avenue for wealth generation and raw materials needed for local manufacturing and foreign exports.

The 2023 Presidential election was fiercely contested between President Bola Tinubu and other passionate politicians but his record of performance as the builder of modern Lagos and experience of creating enabling environment for government to generate revenue and wealth opportunities for citizens, asides his other leadership attributes which made many voted for his candidacy.

Coming into power, taking the baton of leadership from the late Muhammadu Buhari and entering the presidential villa with boldness and action, He proposed and executed different economic reforms, industrial restructuring policies and creation of different institutions to enable a thriving business environment to accelerate growth of local industries and attracting massive investment into Nigeria from multinational organizations and private investors.

The sales of Non-crude export hit a record high, as agricultural produces such as Cocoa, Cashew, Palm oil, Shea butter, Grains, Rubber, Grains, Millet e. t. c took the front row of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2023-2026. With several measures put in place and support mechanism given to farmers, empowerment initiatives to ensure acceleration of agricultural production, soft loans to encourage agribusiness and livestock production.

Although, insecurity affected the operation of farmers in some parts of the country, which adversely affect harvest and quarterly farm produces, but the effort of the government to curb banditry and end terrorism have yielded results significantly.

While local refineries are been resuscitated and private refinery now operating in the country, with farmers smiling to the bank, young school goers open to financial support for payment of tuition through the students loan initiative and NELFUND, administrators at the local government level are now enjoying financial autonomy and infrastructural projects are executed simultaneously across the 6- Geo political zones of Nigeria.

These achievements within 4years have set a political record and standard for performance, as seeds of sustainable development and regional growth have been sown for long term yields, and will influence voters decision in favour of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and the APC in the 2027 general election.

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