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Progress Report on Port Harcourt Refinery’s Second Plant Revamp
The Presidency has confirmed ongoing rehabilitation work on the 150,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) plant at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State, as part of efforts to boost Nigeria’s refining capacity.
Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, disclosed this following a fact-finding visit to the refinery’s 60,000bpd facility on Wednesday. He noted that the smaller plant is operating at 70% capacity, with plans to scale production further.
In a detailed statement shared on Thursday, Onanuga highlighted the team’s observations, which dispelled rumors about the refinery’s functionality. Contrary to claims of crude shortages, he confirmed the refinery receives consistent crude supplies and has been producing various petroleum products, including kerosene, diesel, LPG, and petrol.
“The refinery, once considered a ‘dead asset,’ has undergone a major overhaul, transforming it into a 21st-century facility. New pipelines and upgraded parts have replaced components untouched for over 27 years,” Onanuga said.
During the visit, the team also assessed the co-located 150,000bpd refinery, which has been undergoing refurbishment since its commissioning in 1989. Although no completion timeline was provided, workers were seen installing new components with confidence that the plant would soon resume operations.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had earlier announced the resumption of operations at the smaller refinery, processing 60,000bpd. Spokesman Olufemi Soneye affirmed efforts to increase production, emphasizing that the combined capacity of the two refineries is 210,000bpd.
Onanuga commended the NNPCL and refinery staff for their dedication, describing the progress as a testament to reviving critical national assets.
The revamped facilities are expected to bolster Nigeria’s local refining capacity, reduce reliance on imports, and enhance energy security.
The Nigerian Constitution, under Section 188, details the process for the impeachment of a state governor, requiring a structured legal framework that ensures due process and fairness.
According to the provision, impeachment begins when at least one-third of the members of the State House of Assembly sign a written notice accusing the governor of gross misconduct. The allegations must be clear, specific, and detailed to avoid ambiguity.
Once the notice is received, the Speaker of the House has seven days to serve a copy to the governor and distribute the governor’s response to all assembly members.
Within 14 days, the House must vote on whether to investigate the allegations. This decision is made by motion without debate and requires a two-thirds majority to proceed. If passed, the Chief Judge of the state is mandated to appoint a seven-member panel within seven days to investigate the allegations. This panel must be composed of individuals who are not members of a legislative house, public service, or political party.
During the investigation, the governor has the right to defend himself personally or through legal representation. The panel has three months to complete its inquiry and submit its findings to the assembly.
If the panel concludes that the allegations lack proof, the impeachment process is terminated. However, if the panel finds the allegations proven, the assembly must, within 14 days, vote on the report. A two-thirds majority vote in favor results in the governor’s immediate removal from office.
This process ensures that impeachment is not arbitrary but follows a clear legal and procedural path, reinforcing democratic accountability in governance.
Asaba, Nigeria – Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have killed four suspected kidnappers in a gunfight and recovered an AK-47 rifle with a magazine, according to a statement by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe.
Edafe said the police had earlier arrested a suspect on March 9, 2025, while he was attempting to buy ammunition for an AK-47 rifle. During interrogation, the suspect revealed the rifle’s location, leading the police to a bush along the railway line in Agbarho. Upon arrival, the gang engaged the police in a fierce shootout, leaving four suspects with fatal gunshot wounds.
The injured suspects were taken to the General Hospital in Ughelli, where they were later confirmed dead. Their bodies have been deposited in the morgue as police intensify efforts to track down other fleeing gang members.
In a separate operation, police operatives arrested a suspected kidnapper in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area.
Edafe revealed that on March 12, 2025, a resident of Ibusa reported to the police that his friend’s wife had been kidnapped on March 7, 2025, and a ransom was paid. He also disclosed that he was responsible for delivering the ransom and food items to the kidnappers.
Acting on this information, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ibusa mobilized a team alongside local vigilantes and stormed a bush hideout, leading to the arrest of Abdulahi Isah, a suspected member of the gang.
The suspect is currently in custody, and investigations are ongoing.
President of Dangote Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has accused the former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, of twice demolishing his cement plant in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area.
Speaking during a visit to the plant, which is nearing completion, Dangote praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for persuading him to return to Ogun State to resume construction. The billionaire businessman alleged that his project was repeatedly halted under the Amosun administration.
“That factory was demolished twice. We started, and Governor Amosun demolished it. The second time, we started again, and he demolished not only the factory but also the fencing, so we left. But now, because of His Excellency, my brother, Prince Dapo Abiodun, we are back,” Dangote stated.
He highlighted the significance of the plant, which will include two 6,000t/day clinker production lines, reinforcing Ogun State’s status as an industrial hub. Dangote also pointed to his company’s broader contributions to Nigeria’s economic transformation, including making the country self-sufficient in cement and fertilizer production.
Dangote’s investments, he noted, have helped Nigeria shift from being an importer to an exporter of refined petroleum products. His company’s 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery in Ibeju-Lekki is set to meet local demand for petroleum products, while its petrochemical complex has also begun polypropylene production.
The businessman commended Governor Abiodun’s pro-business policies, attributing his decision to resume operations in Ogun State to the current administration’s support.
In response, former Governor Amosun, through his media aide Lanre Akinwale, denied Dangote’s allegations, asserting that the billionaire lacked the necessary approvals for the structures that were allegedly demolished.
“We want to appeal to Alhaji Dangote to avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished,” Amosun’s camp stated.
The former governor insisted that his administration enforced the law fairly and did not allow any entity, including Dangote, to operate outside established regulations. He recalled that during the commissioning of the Ibese Cement Factory, Dangote had previously praised the Amosun administration for supporting investments in Ogun State.
Amosun emphasized that his tenure attracted over 500 companies to Ogun State, earning it recognition from the World Bank for its Ease-of-Doing-Business policies. He warned against what he described as attempts at blackmail, stating, “Not all Nigerians can be compromised, bullied, or blackmailed. Some of us will continue to uphold high standards, irrespective of whose ox is gored.”
The dispute has reignited conversations on business-government relations in Ogun State, with stakeholders keenly observing the unfolding developments.
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