In a fiery rebuke, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described an invitation from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to tour the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries as “disrespectful” and reflective of a broader pattern of mismanagement in Nigeria’s oil sector.
The invitation, announced by NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, came in response to Obasanjo’s recent interview on Channels Television, during which he laid bare the persistent failures of Nigeria’s refinery system and criticized the refusal to privatize the oil plants during his tenure.
Obasanjo, visibly frustrated, recounted how his administration made determined efforts to privatize the refineries to ensure efficiency and profitability. However, these efforts were thwarted after his successor, the late President Musa Yar’Adua, rejected a $750 million offer from Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.
“I handed over a clear roadmap to transform our refineries, but they chose to ignore it,” Obasanjo lamented. “The NNPCL was fully aware of its inability to manage these facilities effectively, yet they convinced Yar’Adua otherwise, resulting in the rejection of Dangote’s bid. Since then, billions of dollars have been spent on so-called rehabilitation projects with nothing to show for it.”
The former president’s remarks have reignited public outrage over the state of Nigeria’s refineries, which have remained largely non-functional despite years of expensive rehabilitation efforts. The Port Harcourt Refinery alone has consumed over $1.5 billion in rehabilitation costs since 2021, yet it has failed to deliver on its promise of operational efficiency.
Obasanjo’s criticism extends beyond the NNPCL to the broader systemic failures that have plagued Nigeria’s oil sector. He highlighted the irony of a nation rich in crude oil yet perpetually dependent on imported refined products, a situation he attributed to poor leadership decisions and entrenched inefficiencies.
“The invitation to tour the refineries is not only unnecessary but also an insult to my legacy,” Obasanjo added. “What purpose would such a visit serve when the facts are glaringly obvious? It is time for the NNPCL to take responsibility and stop wasting taxpayers’ money on endless rehabilitation projects that yield no results.”
The former president’s comments have sparked a wave of reactions, with many Nigerians echoing his frustration over the country’s mismanaged oil sector. Critics have called for a transparent review of all expenditures related to refinery rehabilitation and urged the government to revisit the privatization option.
As public discontent grows, the spotlight remains firmly on the NNPCL and its leadership. Will this latest controversy prompt meaningful reforms in Nigeria’s refinery operations, or will it be yet another chapter in the country’s long history of squandered oil wealth? Only time will tell.
PIONEER NEWS 