The Okrika and Eleme Hoscom Bulk Retailers Association of the Port Harcourt Refinery has expressed shock and disappointment over the decision of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Bayo Ojulari, to visit Rivers State without inspecting the refinery.

The association noted that while Ojulari visited the LNG facility in Bonny, he failed to include the Port Harcourt Refinery in his itinerary. They described this as a “slap in the face” to refinery workers and management, stressing that it reflects a lack of appreciation for the refinery’s importance to Nigeria’s economy.

“While the LNG facility in Bonny is an important asset, the Port Harcourt Refinery is a vital part of the nation’s refining capacity and deserves attention and recognition,” the Association said in a statement signed by High Chief Sunny Nkpe, Dr. Joseph Obele, Emmanuel Inimgba, Tekena Ikpaiki, and Dickson Obelley.

Missed Opportunity to Boost Morale

The group emphasized that a visit by the NNPCL CEO would have served as a significant morale booster to contractors and rehabilitation teams working round the clock to restore the refinery to full capacity. According to them, such a gesture would have demonstrated Ojulari’s commitment to the success of the rehabilitation project and to the well-being of refinery workers.

Concerns Over Management’s Priorities

The Association argued that the refusal to visit the refinery suggests a lack of interest in the plant’s functionality. They warned that this raises troubling questions about the management’s priorities and overall commitment to revamping the refinery.

Calls for Engagement

Urging Ojulari to revisit his itinerary, the group demanded that he pay a courtesy visit to the Port Harcourt Refinery. They stressed that such engagement would allow him to better understand the operational challenges on ground while reaffirming NNPCL’s pledge to ensure the refinery’s rehabilitation is a success.