The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has invited former President Olusegun Obasanjo to tour Nigeria’s rehabilitated refineries following his claims of financial mismanagement and inefficiency in operating the facilities. Obasanjo alleged that $2 billion had been squandered on the refineries since 2007 without achieving significant results.
In an interview with Channels Television, Obasanjo revealed that during his presidency, efforts to privatize the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries were obstructed. He disclosed that Aliko Dangote had offered $750 million to manage the facilities through a public-private partnership, but his successor, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, rejected the deal, citing confidence in the NNPC’s ability to manage the refineries.
Obasanjo criticized the rejection, stating, “I told my successor that NNPC cannot run the refineries, but he refunded Dangote’s money, and here we are today.” He further accused NNPC of inefficiency and corruption, leading to decades of operational stagnation.
In response, NNPCL spokesperson Femi Soneye announced that the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries had resumed operations following extensive rehabilitation. “This is not mere Turnaround Maintenance; it is a full-scale overhaul to meet world-class standards,” Soneye stated. He added that NNPCL has transitioned into a profit-driven entity, expanding its focus to sustainable energy solutions.
Obasanjo remained skeptical, contrasting the government’s failures with Dangote’s private refinery, which he praised for its operational success. The former president concluded with a Yoruba proverb, likening inflated claims about the refineries to a farmer exaggerating his harvest.
The invitation to Obasanjo underscores NNPCL’s bid to validate its progress amidst lingering public skepticism over the refineries’ viability.
