Varsity Don Disagrees With Obasanjo On State Of Nigeria’s Refineries

An energy expert and lecturer in the Department of Marketing and Petroleum Economics at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Dr Joseph Obele, has disagreed with former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his recent assertion that Nigeria’s refineries will “never work again.”

Obele, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, described the position as overly pessimistic and not reflective of current reform opportunities within the petroleum sector.

He acknowledged that past challenges, ranging from poor maintenance, corruption and operational inefficiencies have hindered the refineries’ performance, but insisted that these are fixable structural issues rather than permanent limitations.

“While former President Obasanjo raised valid historical concerns, concluding that the refineries will never work again dismisses ongoing reforms, technological advancements, and the possibility of institutional correction,” the energy expert said.

Obele noted that some of the oldest refineries in the world are still functional today, citing the Digboi Refinery in India, established in 1901, which continues to operate.

He argued that age is not a limitation, but rather maintenance culture, technology upgrades, and management efficiency determine refinery performance.

The expert referenced the evolving structure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, noting that its commercialisation and ongoing search for competent technical partners present a new pathway for restoring efficiency and productivity in the refining sector.

Obele emphasised that Nigeria’s refineries can function optimally under competent private sector management, stressing that the issue is not the assets themselves but how they are managed.

He highlighted that the successful revival of Nigeria’s refineries will deliver significant national benefits, including job creation, lower inflation and economic growth among others.