Victor EzejaMembers of the Host Community Petroleum Bulk Retailers of Port Harcourt Refinery Depot have kicked against the decision of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to shut down the refinery for maintenance.
They expressed concerns that the Port Harcourt refinery shut down might lead to fuel supply crisis.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThey alleged that it was part of the plans by some individuals to sabotage the 60,000 barrels per day refinery.
This was made known in a statement jointly signed by the fuel retailers group Board of Trustees Chairman, Sunny Nkpe; BoT Secretary, Emmanuel Inimgba; Administrative Secretary and spokesman of PETROAN, Dr Joseph Obele; Administrative Chairman, Tekena Ikpaiki; and a board member, Dickson Obelley.
Prime Business Africa had reported that the NNPCL through a statement by its spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, announced that the refinery will be shut down starting from Saturday, 24 May 2025 for scheduled maintenance.
Soneye said the maintenance exercise is to ensure optimal performance of the refinery.
However, the group expressed distrust over the actions of the Port Harcourt refinery Coordinator, Engr. Bayo Adenrele, and called for the immediate appointment of a substantive managing director to facilitate the ongoing rehabilitation works at the facility.
“We, the Host Community Petroleum Bulk Retailers of Port Harcourt Refinery Depot, are compelled to expose the sinister actions of the refinery coordinator, who is acting as an agent of a private refinery. His actions are deliberately designed to cripple the Port Harcourt refinery, denying it crude oil and shutting it down,” part of the statement read.
The group also called for the intervention of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri the Group Chief Executive of the NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Making a case for immediate appointment of a new managing director, the marketers said: “A permanent MD will bring stability and direction, ensuring the refinery’s revival and contributing to the nation’s economic growth.”
The marketers maintained that shutting down the refinery would give a private refinery market dominance, resulting in higher fuel prices in Nigeria and increasing the country’s economic difficulties.
They vowed to hold the coordinator liable if a fuel crisis developed following the facility’s closure.
“Engr. Bayo’s actions have been marked by a consistent disregard for the rights and interests of the host communities. During the rehabilitation process, he denied our communities their rightful benefits, including contracts, empowerment opportunities, and the sale of scraps,” the statement said.
The group alleged that the coordinator’s actions have hindered the comprehensive rehabilitation of both the old and new refineries to work in full capacity.
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“The actions of Engr. Bayo have hindered the completion of the CRU of the old refinery plant, and his activities are slowing down efforts to make Area 1, 2, and 3 plants of the new refinery fully operational. We fear that the planned shutdown will also lead to the disengagement of our sons and daughters who are currently working on the O&M of the refinery.
“We wish to make it clear that the host community and critical stakeholders will not fold their arms and allow this refinery to rot away after the government’s efforts to revive it. We will resist, with all vigor, through all available legal means, any push against the functionality of the refinery. We will not stand idly by while he prioritises private interests over the welfare of Nigerians,” the marketers further stated.
The NNCPL spokesperson said the maintenance will follow global best practices, adding that the national oil company will ensure uninterrupted fuel supply during the period.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
