By CHARLES IWUOHA

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on the successful revitalization of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

This was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy).

Onanuga also stated that Tinubu acknowledged the role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all the nation’s refineries.

News Express had earlier reported that the Port Harcourt Refinery commenced crude oil production on Tuesday.

This was announced by the spokesperson of the company, Olufemi Soneye.

Soneye said that the refinery kicked off with 60 percent capacity.

“President Bola Tinubu extends his heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on the successful revitalization of the Port Harcourt refinery, marked by the official commencement of petroleum product loading on November 26, 2024.

“The President acknowledges the pivotal role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all our refineries and expresses gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing this critical project.

“Furthermore, President Tinubu commends the leadership of NNPC Limited’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, whose unwavering dedication and commitment were instrumental in overcoming challenges to achieve this milestone.

“With the successful revival of the Port Harcourt refinery, President Tinubu urges NNPC Limited to expedite the scheduled reactivation of both the second Port Harcourt refinery and the Warri and Kaduna refineries.

“These efforts will significantly enhance domestic production capacity alongside the contributions of privately-owned refineries and make our country a major energy hub, with the gas sector also enjoying unprecedented attention by the administration.

“The President underscores his administration’s determination to repair the nation’s refineries, aiming to eradicate the disheartening perception of Nigeria as a major crude oil producer that lacks the ability to refine its own resources for domestic consumption.

“Highlighting the values of patience, integrity, and accountability in the rebuilding of the nation’s infrastructure, President Tinubu calls upon individuals, institutions, and citizens entrusted with responsibilities to maintain focus and uphold trust in their service to the nation,” the statement read.