A civil society organization, Concerned Citizens of Nigeria (CSO), has raised concerns about the recent announcement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) regarding the resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery. The NNPCL announced on Tuesday that the refinery was operating at 70% capacity, a development celebrated by President Bola Tinubu, who also urged the revival of the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
However, the CSO has questioned the authenticity of the claims, alleging that the refinery has been converted into a blending plant rather than producing locally refined fuel. According to the CSO’s national coordinator, Comrade Mahmud Abdul, the announcement is a deceptive tactic designed to mislead Nigerians. Abdul raised concerns that NNPCL may be blending imported, substandard petrol with other substances and passing it off as locally refined fuel, which could negatively affect vehicle engine performance and lifespan.
The CSO also criticized the NNPCL’s repeated delays in completing the refinery’s repairs, which have led to fuel shortages and rising prices. The group expressed doubts about the refinery’s actual functionality, citing video footage of NNPCL-branded trucks that allegedly misrepresented the refinery’s operations. The CSO is calling for a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure accountability and transparency.
The CSO’s statement further speculates that NNPCL may either run the refinery briefly before requesting additional funds for repairs or have covertly downgraded the facility into a blending plant. It urged the public to scrutinize the pricing of petrol from the refinery as a true test of its authenticity.
