Tinubu asked to investigate NNPCL for failure to restore Port Harcourt refinery, others

• Advocates of energy reforms and APC Youth Vanguard for Change urged President Tinubu to investigate the failure of NNPCL to restore local refineries.
• The groups said this inaction has led to economic sabotage, health hazards and environmental risks from adulterated fuel imports.
• Solutions proposed by the group in a letter to the president include investigating alleged financial improprieties, strengthening regulatory oversight and reviving local refineries.

AbujaFCT—Energy Reform Advocates (ERA) and APC Youth Vanguard for Change (APCYVC) have jointly called on President Bola Tinubu to investigate the persistent failures of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to restore Port Harcourt and other local refineries.

The groups said that despite “$2.9 billion approved in 2021 for rehabilitation,” the refineries remain dormant.

ERA organizer, Opialu Fabian, and APCYVC convener, Ezewanka Ugochukwu, signatories of the letter, said the development has led to economic sabotage, health hazards and environmental risks due to adulterated fuel imports.

The letter reads in part:

“Your Excellency, we are witnessing a dire situation. Despite the approval of $2.9 billion in 2021 to rehabilitate these vital refineries, they remain inoperative.

“Refineries remain dormant while Nigeria, an oil giant and Africa’s largest oil producer, finds itself dependent on foreign countries to meet its domestic fuel needs.

The groups advocate systemic failure and corruption

The groups criticized NNPCLhis repeated promises and inaction, indicating systemic failure and corruption.

They questioned the use of rehabilitation funds, citing 25 years of maintenance that resulted in minimal fuel production.

The groups also said the leadership of Mele Kyari, the group chief executive of NNPCL, should be investigated.

“At the heart of this problem is the management of NNPCL, which seems either unable or unwilling to fulfill its mandate. Mr. Mele Kyari, as the chief executive of the group, must be held accountable for these failures,” the group wrote.

The groups propose solutions

To address the crisis, ERA and APCYVC are proposing a full investigation and accountability to uncover the truth behind the refinery failures and alleged financial irregularities.

They also want modernization of the regulatory framework to strengthen oversight, reactivation of local refineries to boost domestic fuel production, transparency in subsidy implementation and strengthening of NNPCL management to increase accountability.

The groups pointed out Nigeria’s dependence on imports oil undermines energy security by squeezing foreign reserves for the benefit of corrupt interests.

“We implore Your Excellency to take swift and decisive action to address these long-standing failures,” they wrote.

The group calls for Kyari to resign

In a related development, the Coalition of Nigeria Delta Youth Against Poverty, Insecurity and Environmental Degradation (CONDYAPIED) expressed his disappointment due to the failure of NNPCL CEO Kyari to operate the Port Harcourt refinery by the end of September.

The group noted that Kyari assured Nigerians of local refining and drastically reduced oil prices.

However, CONDYAPIED said none of Port Harcourt, Warri or Kaduna refineries except for the Dangote Refinery are operating, causing price increases.

Source: Legit.ng