Marketers Accuse NNPCL Chief Of Stalling Port Harcourt Refinery Revival

The Petroleum Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria has raised concerns over the state of the Port Harcourt Refinery, alleging that the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company is neglecting its revival.

The association said the refinery, which plays a key role in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain, has been left dormant since its shutdown for repairs in May 2025.

The association’s Eastern Zonal Chairman, Sunny Nkpe, criticised the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, for failing to visit the facility since assuming office over four months ago. He claimed that Ojulari’s approach appears to favour private refineries, giving them room to dominate the market and sell petroleum products at high prices.

Nkpe said a fact-finding visit to the Old Port Harcourt Refinery, also known as Area 5, revealed a slow pace of work despite an initial 30-day repair schedule. He alleged that contractors working on the refinery have not been funded for more than a year, stalling critical repairs on the cracking and blending units.

The association warned that prolonged inactivity at the refinery is hurting thousands of workers, including tanker drivers and marketers, and has affected economic activities in host communities. Stakeholders such as NUPENG, IPMAN, and other unions are expected to meet soon to decide on coordinated steps for the facility’s revival.

Nkpe argued that bringing the refinery back into production would help stabilise fuel prices and curb the influence of private refineries. He said the Port Harcourt facility is crucial for supplying petroleum products to cities such as Aba, Enugu, and Makurdi, making its operation vital to national fuel distribution.

He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and order the immediate restoration of the refinery, warning that any further delay could be viewed as an intentional move by vested interests to undermine the president’s economic plans. According to him, the months when the refinery was operational brought price stability, increased competition, job creation, and a boost in local commerce.

Nkpe said he had high expectations when Ojulari, a former Shell executive, was appointed to head the NNPCL, but expressed disappointment over the lack of progress on the refinery repairs that were meant to be completed in June 2025.