Nigeria NNPC Responds to Obasanjo’s Concerns with Invitation to Tour Refineries

NNPC invites former President Olusegun Obasanjo to visit the rehabilitated Port Harcourt and Warri refineries to verify their operational status. This follows Obasanjo's concerns about the refineries' inefficiency and NNPC’s transparency. The company reassures the public of its commitment to energy security and the refineries' global standard overhaul.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has invited former President Olusegun Obasanjo to visit the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries for a firsthand assessment of their operational status. This invitation follows Obasanjo’s previous remarks that the nation’s refineries were still unproductive despite significant investments.

Obasanjo had previously questioned the transparency of the NNPC, accusing the company of misleading the public about the actual state of the refineries, which he claimed remained dormant. The former president also recalled attempts to have Shell Petroleum Development Company manage the refineries, which were declined due to concerns about corruption.

In response, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency and invited Obasanjo to see the progress of the rehabilitated refineries. Soneye reassured the public that the Port Harcourt refinery, as well as the Warri refinery, had undergone comprehensive overhauls, which go beyond mere maintenance and are aligned with global standards.

Soneye also addressed the transformation of NNPC into a private entity, NNPC Limited, which is now a profit-driven international energy firm. He clarified that the company no longer operates as a government corporation and has shifted focus towards ensuring Nigeria’s energy security.