Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has said Nigeria’s oil wealth must translate into direct and measurable benefits for citizens.
Makinde made the remarks on Monday, September 7, 2026, during the opening of the APM presidential campaign office in Abuja, where he outlined aspects of his “Reset Nigeria” agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Makinde Calls for Direct Benefits from Oil
The Oyo governor argued that Nigerians should benefit more directly from the country’s status as an oil-producing nation, particularly through greater transparency in the management of crude oil supplied to domestic refineries.
Makinde questioned why crude produced locally should be priced for Nigerian refineries as though the country depended entirely on imported crude.
He said Nigeria’s petroleum resources should provide clear and measurable benefits to citizens. He added that Nigerians should not bear the full burden of high energy costs.
Governor Seeks Transparency in Petroleum Sector
Makinde also called for greater transparency across the petroleum value chain. This includes crude production, domestic allocation, refining, transportation, distribution, taxation and retail margins.
He said the plan would promote transparency, accountability and greater public participation in governance. They should also know who benefits from the system and where inefficiencies increase costs.
According to him, greater transparency would help citizens assess how the country’s natural resources are managed. It would also show whether those resources are delivering value to the public.
Makinde Unveils ‘Reset Nigeria’ Agenda
The governor used the campaign office opening to promote his “Reset Nigeria” agenda. He urged farmers, traders, workers, business owners and young people to participate in discussions about the country’s future.
The campaign office opened as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Makinde is positioning his campaign around economic reform, transparency and accountable leadership.
Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi also attended the event. He described Makinde as qualified to contest the presidency and called for greater cooperation among political actors ahead of the election.
