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ABUJA – A non-governmental organization, the Energy Reforms Advocates of Nigeria, in collaboration with the All Progressives Congress Youth Vanguard for Change, have condemned the persistent failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL) to fix ailing refineries in the country.
Therefore, the groups have demanded that the NNPCL should restore the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.
The groups, at a press conference on Friday, also warned against the alleged continuous importation of adulterated fuel into Nigeria.
The groups led by Dr. Opialu Fabian, noted that rehabilitation of the refineries has been plagued by delays and unfulfilled promises, with $1.5billion approved in 2021 for the Port Harcourt refinery and an additional $1.4billion for the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
The groups wondered why the assurances of the NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Melee Kyari, of the refineries’ imminent restoration, have not been actualized.
In his address, Dr. Fabian blamed certain entities within the NNPCL for obstructing progress for repairs of the refineries.
He highlighted the devastating impact of the refineries’ failure on Nigerians, who face endless fuel queues, exorbitant prices, and inflated costs of goods and services.
Fabian demanded accountability from NNPCL, emphasizing the need for transparency in contract awarding and execution.
“We have chosen this moment to speak on behalf of Nigerians to highlight the ongoing, persistent challenges around the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries.
“These failures, unfortunately, continue to place Africa’s largest oil producer in the ironic position of depending entirely on imported petroleum products for domestic consumption.
“This dependency has drained our nation’s foreign reserves, inflated fuel prices, and left Nigerians queuing endlessly at filling stations.
“The excuses provided by NNPCL are, unfortunately, repetitive. We have heard, time and again, explanations citing ‘obsolescence’ ‘corrosion’ and the ‘absence of baseline data for structural integrity verification’.
“Today, the energy sector is a critical cornerstone of Nigeria’s prosperity. Our country, rich in crude oil, should be reaping the benefits of this resource through local refining, lower fuel prices, and foreign exchange conservation. Instead, the leadership at NNPCL continues to drain our economy by prioritizing importation, an act that not only places strain on our foreign reserves but also destabilizes our currency.
“Evidently, the path forward requires a new approach to how contracts are awarded, how funds are managed, and how performance is measured within NNPCL and the refineries.
“Therefore, we must demand that NNPCL provides Nigerians with a detailed account of the current state of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries. This report should include an outline of how funds have been utilized, reasons for the missed deadlines, and a clear, realistic timeline for when Nigerians can expect results.
“In conclusion, this is a critical moment for Nigeria, one that calls for action and resolve. We are no longer willing to stand by and watch as the nation’s potential is squandered by unaccountable leaders and inefficient practice”.
