FACT CHECK: Is Saudi Arabia’s population less than 10 percent of Nigeria’s?

 

Governor Sule made the claim while appearing on Channels Televion’s Politics Today, on Tuesday. The governor was on the programme to discuss the discovery and prospective exploration of oil in his state.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday inaugurated the first oil drilling of the Ebenyi-A Exploration Well located in the Middle Benue Trough in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. Governor Sule who expressed excitement, assured that residents of the state would benefit largely from the exploration. However, when queried on the extent to which residents would benefit, and whether all residents of the state would be employed, he argued that not even in Saudi Arabia (the third largest oil-producing companies) are all citizens employed. He noted that Saudi Arabia produces about seven million barrels of oil per day, and has less than 10 per cent of Nigeria’s population.