The Energy Reforms Advocates of Nigeria, in collaboration with the APC Youth Vanguard for Change, have condemned the persistent failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to restore the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries, despite massive investments.

The groups, at a press conference on Friday, also warned against the continuous importation of adulterated fuel into Nigeria.

The refineries’ rehabilitation has been plagued by delays and unfulfilled promises, with $1.5 billion approved in 2021 for the Port Harcourt Refinery and an additional $1.4 billion for the Warri and Kaduna refineries.

NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, has repeatedly assured Nigerians of the refineries’ imminent restoration.

In his address, Dr Opialu Fabian, the spokesman of the groups, highlighted the devastating impact of the refineries’ failure on Nigerians, who face endless fuel queues, exorbitant prices, and inflated costs of goods and services.

Fabian demanded accountability from NNPCL, emphasising the need for transparency in contract awarding and execution.

The advocates warned against continuing to import adulterated fuel, which they claimed has drained Nigeria’s foreign reserves, destabilised the currency, and harmed citizens.

The statement partly reads: “We have chosen this moment to speak on behalf of Nigerians to highlight the ongoing, persistent challenges around the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries.

“These failures, unfortunately, continue to place Africa’s largest oil producer in the ironic position of depending entirely on imported petroleum products for domestic consumption. This dependency has drained our nation’s foreign reserves, inflated fuel prices, and left Nigerians queuing endlessly at filling stations.

“The excuses provided by NNPCL are, unfortunately, repetitive. We have heard, time and again, explanations citing ‘obsolescence’, ‘corrosion’, and the ‘absence of baseline data for structural integrity verification’.

“Today, the energy sector is a critical cornerstone of Nigeria’s prosperity. Our country, rich in crude oil, should be reaping the benefits of this resource through local refining, lower fuel prices, and foreign exchange conservation. Instead, the leadership at NNPCL continues to drain our economy by prioritising importation, an act that not only places strain on our foreign reserves but also destabilises our currency.

“We urge the government to reconsider the composition of NNPCL’s leadership. After more than three years of unfulfilled promises and costly mismanagement, it is evident that the current leadership lacks the vision and competence needed to drive Nigeria’s energy sector forward.

“Evidently, the path forward requires a new approach to how contracts are awarded, how funds are managed, and how performance is measured within NNPCL and the refineries.

“Therefore, we must demand that NNPCL provides Nigerians with a detailed account of the current state of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries. This report should include an outline of how funds have been utilised, reasons for the missed deadlines, and a clear, realistic timeline for when Nigerians can expect results.

“In conclusion, this is a critical moment for Nigeria, one that calls for action and resolve. We are no longer willing to stand by and watch as the nation’s potential is squandered by unaccountable leaders and inefficient practice.” (Saturday Tribune)