PETROAN Accuses NNPCL Boss of Neglecting Port Harcourt Refinery
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has accused Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) CEO Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari of neglecting the Port Harcourt Refinery, warning that stakeholders are preparing for decisive action if operations are not restarted.
‘Lack of Passion’ for Critical Facility
Speaking in Port Harcourt, PETROAN Eastern Zone Chairman High Chief Sunny Nkpe said it was “disturbing” that Ojulari had not physically visited the refinery since assuming office four months ago. The facility, shut down on 24 May 2025 for a scheduled 30-day repair, remains idle.
“His absence signals a lack of passion for its functionality,” Nkpe stated, after a fact-finding visit to the old Port Harcourt Refinery (Area 5), where he observed a slow pace of work and heard complaints from contractors owed for over a year.
Impact on Jobs and Supply
Nkpe alleged that delays in restarting the refinery give an unfair advantage to private refineries, allowing them to set “outrageous” fuel prices. He warned that thousands of tanker drivers, PETROAN and IPMAN staff have lost income due to the shutdown.
“The Port Harcourt Refinery is key to supplying major cities like Aba, Enugu, and Makurdi. Its revival would stabilise petrol prices, reduce dependence on private refineries, and restore livelihoods,” he said.
Stakeholders Mobilising
Nkpe said PETROAN will consult with the Industrial Motor Branch (IMB), Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of NUPENG, IPMAN, PENGASSAN, and Sutakep to decide on collective action. Options could include shutting down the petroleum distribution network or supporting calls for Ojulari’s removal.
Call for Presidential Intervention
Nkpe appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, alleging that “vested interests” were sabotaging the President’s vision for the refinery. He recalled that during the seven months the facility recently operated, local economies thrived, jobs were created, and fuel prices were stable.
“Stakeholders are ready to support President Tinubu’s reform agenda and will not sit by while any person or group frustrates efforts to make the refinery functional,” Nkpe said.
