The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has announced that the Port Harcourt Refinery is fully operational and has invited former President Olusegun Obasanjo for a tour. NNPC’s chief corporate communications officer, Olufemi Soneye, who made this call, emphasised that recent media reports claiming the refinery had shut down are false.
The refinery, which resumed operations in November 2024 after extensive rehabilitation, is currently preparing for loading operations, Soneye said.
Soneye made the call in response to ex-president Obasanjo’s suggestion that the Port Harcourt Refinery would not function effectively due to concerns raised by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
Speaking in during a TV interview, the former president indicated that SPDC, which was approached for equity acquisition in the refinery, cited corruption as a significant impediment to its operations.
Obasanjo also accused the NNPC of misleading the public regarding the refinery’s operational status, expressing skepticism about its management capabilities and overall functionality.
In an interview with Channels TV on Thursday, Obasanjo said Shell refused to run Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries during his presidency for many reasons, one of which was because of corruption.
“I asked Shell to run the refineries for us and Shell said they wouldn’t. I asked them to take equity but they said no.
“Later on, I called the boss of Shell to come and tell me what the problem was and he gave me four or five reasons. He said, first of all, they make a major profit from upstream, not from downstream. He said they run downstream just to keep their head above water.
“Two, he said our refineries were too small: 60,000 barrels 100,000 barrels and I think 120,000 barrels. He said that at that time, the average refinery was going for 250,000 barrels.
“Three, he said our refineries were not well maintained. Four, he said that there was too much corruption around the activities of our refinery and they would not want to get involved in that.”
Obasanjo said after Shell’s refusal, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, put a team together and paid $750 million to operate the refineries through a public-private partnership.
“Aliko got a team together and they paid $750m to take part in public–private partnership (PPP) in running the refineries. My successor refunded their money and I went to my successor and told him what transpired. He said NNPC said they wanted the refinery and they could run it and I said but you know they cannot run it,” he narrated.
Obasanjo said he was told not too long ago that since that time, more than N2 billion dollars has been squandered on the refinery and they still would not work.
“If a company like Shell tells me what they told me, I will believe them. If anybody tells you now that it is working, why are they now with Aliko? And Aliko will make his own refinery work; not only make it work, he will make it deliver.”
Meanwhile, responding to the former president, NNPC spokesman, Soneye said, “We hold President Olusegun Obasanjo in the highest regard as a respected statesman who has made significant contributions to the growth and progress of Nigeria. His dedication to national development and his right to speak on matters of national importance are both deeply respected.
“We would like to respectfully highlight the remarkable transformation of the NNPC. Today, NNPC has evolved into NNPC Limited, a private entity that has transitioned from being a loss-making organisation to becoming a profit-oriented global energy leader.
“Under this new model, NNPC Limited has expanded beyond oil and gas to become an integrated energy company. Our focus is not only on harnessing traditional resources but also on developing cleaner, cheaper, and sustainable energy solutions to meet Nigeria’s growing demands.
A notable achievement of NNPC Limited is the complete rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PhRC) and Warri Refinery. This is not the typical Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of the past but a comprehensive overhaul designed to meet world-class standards. Similar efforts are underway at the old Port Harcourt Refinery and Kaduna Refinery, ensuring these facilities are enhanced and maintained to global standards for sustainable operation.
This progress has been driven by the visionary leadership of the NNPC Limited board and the management team led by GCEO Mele Kyari, alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s transformative policies in the energy sector. Together, they have achieved unprecedented milestones, setting NNPC Limited on a path to redefine energy security for Nigeria while positioning the company as a leader on the global energy stage.
“We extend an invitation to our esteemed former president to join us in this historic journey. His wisdom and experience are invaluable, and we deeply appreciate his insights and guidance, which will always be welcomed and cherished.
“Additionally, we warmly invite President Obasanjo to tour the rehabilitated refineries and witness firsthand the progress made under the leadership of NNPC Limited.
“We remain grateful for his enduring contributions to Nigeria’s development and are committed to building a brighter, more prosperous future for our nation. Together, we can continue to ensure energy security and deliver sustainable value to all Nigerians,” Soneye said.
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