Marketers accuses NNPCL CEO of neglecting P’Harcourt refinery’s rehabilitation
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria has accused Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, of neglecting the revitalization of the Port Harcourt refinery.Sunny Nkpe, the Zonal Chairman for System 2E (Eastern Zone) of PETROAN, expressed worry in a statement released on Monday about the slow progress at the Old Port Harcourt Refinery (Area 5), which was closed on May 24, 2025, for a scheduled repair that was expected to last 30 days.
Nkpe, who visited the refinery last weekend to gather information, was concerned about the sluggish operations there and pointed out that Ojulari had not visited the site since he took office as the GCEO.
“The current Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, has not physically visited the Port Harcourt Refinery in four months since assuming office, suggesting a lack of commitment to the refinery's operation,” Nkpe stated.
He mentioned that contractors working at the repair site complained they have not been paid in over 12 months.
He also noted that repairs on the cracking and blending plants of Units 12 and 14 were nearly completed when the new NNPC chief took charge.
“The contractors expressed that they have been owed payments for more than 12 months due to lack of funding. Everything was ready for the Old Port Harcourt Refinery to start production, as the necessary repairs scheduled for the cracking and blending plants of Unit 12 and Unit 14 were almost finalized before the new Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC demonstrated no commitment and showed disinterest, which suggests a preference for private refineries to gain a monopoly and exploit Nigerians with high prices for petroleum products,” Nkpe claimed.
The PETROAN zonal chairman mentioned that he intends to consult with other midstream stakeholders, including petroleum tanker drivers, independent marketers, oil, and gas suppliers, among others. He pointed out that the closure of the refinery has caused thousands of tanker drivers and marketers to lose their jobs.
“Thousands of tanker drivers are unemployed, including members of PETROAN and IPMAN, and it is crucial that we find legitimate solutions to advocate for the revival of the Port Harcourt refinery,” he emphasized.
He asserted that reactivating the plant would “stabilize petroleum product prices and diminish the dominance of private refineries,” underlining the essential role of the refinery in supplying Aba, Enugu, Makurdi, and other significant cities. Nkpe called on the NNPC GCEO to prioritize the Port Harcourt refinery.
He also urged President Bola Tinubu to “instigate immediate actions to revive the Port Harcourt refinery," cautioning that "these unwarranted delays appear to be planned and motivated by vested interests aiming to hinder the President’s vision.”
Nkpe stated, “Economic activities regained their vibrancy, small traders within the host communities rejoiced, and job opportunities were created. Most importantly, the prices of petroleum products remained stable, fostering peak competition.”
Nkpe expressed that he was “extremely pleased” when Ojulari, a technocrat from Shell Oil Plc, was appointed as NNPC GCEO. He added, “However, I am taken aback by his failure to demonstrate the capability to revive the Old Port Harcourt refinery, which was expected to be repaired within 30 days after May 24, 2025.”
When asked if stakeholders would support efforts to dismiss Ojulari due to the shutdown of the distribution network, Nkpe replied, “I will wait for the collective decision of stakeholders before making any further statements.”
He did note that stakeholders remain dedicated to supporting President Tinubu’s reform agenda and “will not accept any individual or group hindering the President’s efforts to restore the refinery.”
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