Embark on tour of refineries to see progress made – NNPC Ltd challenges Fmr. Pres. Obasanjo
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has extended an invitation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to embark on a tour of the rehabilitated Port Harcourt Refinery, urging him to witness firsthand the progress made under its new management.
This development comes as a response to Obasanjo’s recent interview with Channels Television, where he cast doubt on the refinery’s functionality and the state oil company’s ability to manage the refineries.
Earlier, the former President had revealed how NNPC Ltd misled his successor, Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua into rejecting a $750 million offer from Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group, to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries in 2007.
Reacting to the former president’s statements, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye in a statement issued on Thursday, January 2, 2025, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to transparency.
“We respectfully invite President Obasanjo to tour the rehabilitated refineries to see the progress achieved. His wisdom and experience are invaluable, and we welcome his insights,” Soneye stated.
He clarified that the Port Harcourt Refinery underwent a comprehensive overhaul rather than a traditional Turnaround Maintenance (TAM).
“This was a full-scale rehabilitation designed to meet world-class standards,” Soneye said, adding that similar efforts are ongoing at the Kaduna Refinery and the old Port Harcourt Refinery.
Soneye highlighted NNPCL’s transition from a government corporation to a profit-driven global energy company.
“This transformation has shifted us from being a loss-making organization to an integrated energy firm focused on profitability and sustainability,” he said.
Soneye also dismissed reports that NNPCL plans to halt crude oil supply to the Dangote Refinery, labeling them as false.
“There’s no need to respond to falsehood,” he remarked, emphasising NNPCL’s focus on ensuring energy security for Nigeria.
In addressing Obasanjo’s comments, Soneye reiterated the company’s respect for the former president.
“We hold President Obasanjo in the highest regard as a distinguished statesman. His perspectives on national issues are valued, and we remain grateful for his leadership and commitment to Nigeria’s progress,” he said.
Recall that the former President Olusegun Obasanjo has earlier disclosed how the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) turned down a $750 million offer from billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries in 2007.
Obasanjo made this claim during an exclusive interview with Channels Television, where he shared insights into the challenges surrounding Nigeria’s struggling refineries.
The former president said that the NNPC, now operating as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), was aware of its limitations in managing the nation’s refineries but still rejected Dangote’s offer.
“When I was president, I wanted to do something about the three refineries we have: Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna. Aliko got a team together after I asked Shell to come and run it for us. And Shell said they wouldn’t.
“Aliko got a team together and they paid $750m to take part in PPP (Public-Private Partnership) in running the refineries. My successor refunded their money and I went to my successor and told him what transpired. He said NNPC said they wanted the refineries and they could run it. I now said but you know they cannot run it.”
The former president expressed frustration over the mismanagement of the refineries, revealing that more than $2 billion had been spent on them since 2007 without yielding results.
“If a company like Shell tells me what they told me, I will believe them. But here we are, over $2 billion squandered, and the refineries still won’t work,” he lamented.
