NNPCL faces fresh criticism over non-operational refineries

GistReel

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) is under fire as local refineries, including the Port Harcourt Refinery, remain inactive despite repeated assurances of progress.

The Niger Delta Development & Transformation Initiative (NDDTI) has accused the NNPCL of misleading Nigerians and failing to meet multiple deadlines.

In a statement on Thursday, November 21, NDDTI spokesperson Barr. Lawrence Etienne criticized NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, for allegedly providing false timelines for refinery rehabilitation.

“NNPCL has shifted the goalposts countless times. It promised mechanical completion in July 2024 and refinery operations in August, yet nothing has been delivered,” Etienne stated.

The group also highlighted Kyari’s 2019 claim that all four Nigerian refineries would be operational by the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2023.

“One and a half years after Buhari’s exit, no refinery is functional despite billions of dollars in government funding,” the statement noted.

NDDTI further accused Kyari of misleading the Senate by claiming that Nigeria would become a net exporter of petroleum products by the end of 2024.

“Instead of fulfilling these promises, Nigeria remains an importer of sulphur-laden petroleum products, worsening environmental and mechanical hazards,” Etienne added.

In response, NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer Olufemi Soneye defended the delays, attributing them to unforeseen challenges in rehabilitating the Port Harcourt refinery, a brownfield project. However, Soneye did not provide a revised timeline for completion.

The Port Harcourt Refinery, established in 1965, has been non-functional for years despite a $1.5 billion loan secured in 2021 for its renovation. Nigerians, already grappling with soaring fuel prices, had hoped that local refining would reduce costs and end reliance on imported fuel.

NDDTI has called for Kyari’s resignation, asserting, “The NNPCL must stop deceiving Nigerians. If Kyari cannot deliver, he should step aside.”

The group insists that reviving local refineries is critical to resolving Nigeria’s energy crisis, with many citizens questioning the management of public funds and the government’s commitment to addressing the issue.