Port Harcourt shutdown may signal another hike in prices of fuel - IPMAN

…as host communities tell NNPCL to adhere to 30-day timeframe for maintenance

Host communities in Okrika and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State have raised concerns over the recent shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refinery by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), warning that it could lead to another spike in fuel prices nationwide.

Speaking at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, the communities—under the banner of HOSCOM Bulk Petroleum Retailers of the Port Harcourt Refinery—urged the NNPCL to strictly adhere to the 30-day timeline it announced for maintenance works.

They expressed skepticism over the rationale for shutting down a facility that has yet to operate at full capacity since its restart less than a year ago.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the group, Sunny Nkpe criticized the decision and called on the Federal Government to immediately appoint technically competent personnel to manage the refinery and ensure that the ongoing revamp is completed on schedule.

“This refinery only started steaming around October last year. Now they’re shutting it down again, and we doubt any real repairs are ongoing. We fear this may end up like Warri and other refineries that never fully returned to operation,” Nkpe said.

“We are demanding that the 30-day shutdown should be respected.”

Nkpe also called on NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, to urgently appoint a new Managing Director for the refinery to facilitate a smooth and timely rehabilitation process.

Despite their concerns, Nkpe expressed confidence in the contractor handling the turnaround maintenance and urged the government to provide sufficient funding.

Administrative Chairman of HOSCOM and Chairman of IPMAN Rivers State Unit, Tekena Ikpaki warned that a prolonged shutdown could result in artificial scarcity, especially in states that rely on the Port Harcourt Refinery for fuel supply.

“There’s still product in the refinery’s reserve tanks, but once that’s gone, how do we meet demand?” Ikpaki asked. “Rather than a full shutdown, phased maintenance should be considered to avoid supply disruptions and panic buying.”

The BOT Secretary and Eastern Zonal Secretary of IPMAN, Inimgba Emmanuel echoed the warning, saying the shutdown could trigger another hike in fuel prices.

“When the refinery was initially non-functional, PMS prices soared to around ₦1,200 per litre. Once it came back online, prices started dropping. If it’s shut down again, we may see another surge that will affect everyone—from marketers to ordinary Nigerians,” Emmanuel said.

The Administrative Secretary of the group, Joseph Obele voiced suspicions that the shutdown might be an attempt to create a monopoly in favor of a private refinery.

“If monopoly takes over the sector, Nigerians will be forced to buy fuel at outrageous prices,” he warned, noting that when a certain private refinery began operations last year, fuel sold for over ₦1,300 per litre. “But when Port Harcourt came back online, prices dropped to between ₦800 and ₦900.”

The stakeholders urged swift action from the government to restore operations, ensure transparency, and protect Nigerians from further economic hardship.