Groups Decry Persistent Failure To Restore Port Harcourt, Kaduna Refineries

The Energy Reforms Advocates of Nigeria, in collaboration with the APC Youth Vanguard for Change, have condemned the persistent failure to restore the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries, despite massive investments. The groups made this known at a press conference on Friday in Abuja. The refineries’ rehabilitation has been plagued by delays and unfulfilled promises, […]

The Energy Reforms Advocates of Nigeria, in collaboration with the APC Youth Vanguard for Change, have condemned the persistent failure to restore the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries, despite massive investments.

The groups made this known at a press conference on Friday in Abuja.

The refineries’ rehabilitation has been plagued by delays and unfulfilled promises, with $1.5 billion approved in 2021 for the Port Harcourt Refinery and an additional $1.4 billion for the Warri and Kaduna refineries.

NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Kyari, has repeatedly assured Nigerians of the refineries’ imminent restoration, only to renege on these promises.

However, the advocates questioned the sincerity of his statements.

In his address, Dr. Opialu Fabian highlighted the devastating impact of the refineries’ failure on Nigerians, who face endless fuel queues, exorbitant prices, and inflated costs of goods and services.

The statement partly reads: “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.

“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”.