NNPCL under fire for non-functional refineries
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) is facing intense criticism as local refineries, including the Port Harcourt Refinery, remain dormant despite repeated promises of progress.
The Niger Delta Development & Transformation Initiative (NDDTI) has accused NNPCL of misleading the public and repeatedly missing its 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 unrealistic timelines for the refineries’ rehabilitation.
“NNPCL has consistently failed to meet its own targets,” Etienne said. “It committed to completing mechanical works by July 2024 and beginning refinery operations in August, but nothing has materialized.”
The group also reminded the public of Kyari’s 2019 promise that all four Nigerian refineries would be operational before former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration ended in 2023.
“Eighteen months after Buhari’s departure, not a single refinery is functioning, despite billions of dollars in funding,” the statement emphasized.
NDDTI further accused Kyari of misleading lawmakers by claiming that Nigeria would achieve self-sufficiency in petroleum product exports by the end of 2024.
“Instead of meeting these lofty promises, the country continues to rely on imports of low-quality, sulphur-heavy fuel, which worsens environmental and mechanical issues,” Etienne added.
In defense of the delays, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, blamed unforeseen challenges in the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery, labeling it a complex “brownfield project.” However, Soneye did not provide an updated timeline for its completion.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, which dates back to 1965, has been out of operation for years. This is despite a $1.5 billion loan approved in 2021 for its overhaul. Nigerians, burdened by rising fuel prices, had hoped that local refining would reduce costs and curb dependency on imports.
NDDTI has called for Kyari’s resignation, declaring, “The NNPCL must end this cycle of deception. If Kyari is unable to deliver, he should step aside.”
The group insists that revitalizing local refineries is essential to addressing Nigeria’s energy crisis. Meanwhile, many citizens are questioning the government’s transparency in managing public funds and its commitment to solving the nation’s refinery challenges.
