NUPENG Backs NNPC, Urges Transparency in Warri, Port Harcourt Refinery Revival MoU

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has thrown its weight behind the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, Limited ‘s (NNPC) efforts to revive the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries, while calling for full transparency in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) guiding the project.

In a statement issued Thursday, NUPENG president, Salmon Oladiti, commended the federal government and the NNPC for advancing the rehabilitation initiative, which aims to restore the aging facilities to full operational capacity and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports .
Oladiti described the development as a significant step towards addressing the long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s petroleum sector and reducing the country’s heavy dependence on imported petroleum products despite its position as a major oil-producing nation.

According to him, the continued collapse and underperformance of local refineries over the years have contributed greatly to rising fuel costs, pressure on foreign exchange, inflation, unemployment, and worsening economic hardship for millions of Nigerians.

He decried that Nigerian workers and ordinary citizens have continued to bear the burden of unstable fuel supply, high transportation costs, and harsh living conditions caused by the failure of the nation’s refining sector and the inability to achieve sustainable local production.

He stated that the agreement with the Chinese firms presents an opportunity for the country to reposition its oil and gas sector, restore public confidence in the nation’s refining capacity, create employment opportunities, encourage industrial growth, strengthen energy security, and reduce the economic pressure associated with fuel importation.

Comrade Oladiti further stressed that Nigerians are tired of repeated refinery rehabilitation promises and projects that consumed huge public resources without delivering lasting results, and therefore urged all parties involved in the partnership to ensure transparency, accountability, professionalism, and timely execution of the agreement.

He again added that the revival of the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries must not end as another political announcement, but should translate into real economic relief and tangible benefits for Nigerians already battling difficult economic realities.

He called on the federal government and NNPC Ltd. to remain committed to policies and partnerships that prioritise national development, economic stability, and the welfare of the Nigerian people.