On Saturday, criticism mounts on President Bola Tinubu’s administration from Nigerians in response to statements made by the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). These comments raised significant concerns regarding the future of the country’s refineries, despite substantial investments made in their rehabilitation.
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, expressed doubts on Thursday, suggesting that the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna might never become operational again, even after approximately $18 billion was allocated for their upgrades.
The following day, Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, reiterated these worries, revealing that the company was contemplating the sale of the refineries. He attributed this decision to the prolonged rehabilitation efforts that have failed to deliver meaningful outcomes, primarily due to the aging infrastructure of the facilities. During an interview with Bloomberg in Vienna, Austria, Ojulari highlighted the significant financial investments made without any substantial returns.
In response, several opposition leaders criticized the Tinubu administration during separate interviews on Saturday. They called for a comprehensive criminal investigation into the alleged corruption associated with the unsuccessful maintenance efforts for the refineries. The leaders emphasized the need for accountability, arguing that the government should not overlook the issue without identifying and prosecuting those responsible for the considerable financial losses. They also accused both the current administration and the previous one under Muhammadu Buhari of misleading the public regarding the operational status of the refineries.
