The National Civil Society Coalition of Nigeria (NCSCN) has announced plans to carry out an independent assessment of the Port Harcourt Refinery in January 2025. This initiative, according to the coalition, aims to verify the refinery’s integrity amidst growing concerns from various quarters.
In a statement released on Monday, the NCSCN’s Head, Blessing Akinsolotu, disclosed that a 50-member committee has been established to lead the evaluation. “This visit is paramount following reports from certain quarters doubting the integrity of the refinery,” the statement read.
The announcement follows the recent inauguration of the refinery’s 60,000-barrel-per-day production capacity plant by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, on November 26, 2024. The event, which marked the completion of a $1.5 billion rehabilitation project approved in March 2021, was celebrated as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
During the reopening, the refinery began lifting petrol, bringing excitement to the crowd present. In addition, NNPCL recently announced record-breaking profits for 2024, declaring a total of ₦3.29 trillion, the highest in its history.
The NCSCN highlighted the critical role of functional refineries in alleviating the challenges Nigerians face, particularly during periods of fuel scarcity. “Nigerians desire functional refineries to alleviate the sufferings caused by incessant scarcity of petroleum products, especially during the festive season. NNPCL and the Port Harcourt Refinery Company have contributed immensely to this,” the coalition stated.
The statement also noted that this festive season has seen remarkable stability in the supply and distribution of petroleum products at regulated prices, a significant departure from previous years. This stability, the coalition said, is a testament to the leadership at NNPCL and the operational efficiency of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
As part of its assessment plan, the coalition will engage with the refinery’s management to obtain firsthand information on production capacity and operational records. Akinsolotu assured Nigerians that the findings from the visit would be made public to dispel any lingering doubts.
“The strategic working visit will furnish the citizenry with firsthand facts and figures concerning production capacity and operational records of the refinery. The findings will be made public globally for the avoidance of doubts by Nigerians and other interest groups,” the statement concluded.
