Senate Leader Slams Neglect Of Port Harcourt Refinery Despite $1.5 Billion Investment

The chair of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee, Opeyemi Bamidele, expressed concerns over the minimal progress in the maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery, despite the government allocating $1.5 billion to it in 2021.

During a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday, the senate leader said it was unfair that public companies were neglected, while private businesses succeeded.

He noted that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved a plan to use $1.5 billion for rehabilitating the Port Harcourt Refinery, adding that the government-owned refineries remained in poor conditions despite the billions spent on maintenance.

"The federation is undergoing a truly challenging period. The distribution and supply of refined petroleum products have been irregular and problematic in the recent history of our fatherland," he said, Premium Times reported.

"The long queues at filling stations are a testament to this challenge. A situation whereby we now depend almost entirely on the importation of these products even when we daily supply the global oil market about two percent of its crude oil requirements is worrisome."

He also added the National Assembly was set to conduct an investigative hearing "with all sense of honour and responsibility."

Bamidele also highlighted the serious issue of importing dangerous petroleum products and substandard diesel into the country.

He pointed out that since 1999, the federal government has spent billions of dollars on maintaining and upgrading state-owned refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt, and Warri, but these refineries weren't working even now.

Meanwhile, the group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, denied claims of sabotaging the domestic refinery. He added the media attacks on him and the institution were deliberate and aimed at making it seem like NNPCL and its leadership were involved in economic sabotage.

Kyari emphasized the company has improved greatly, shifting from unprofitable for 43 years to a profit-making organization today.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Heineken Lokpobiri said the oil sector suffered from misinformation, and suggested the Senate broadcast the committee's proceedings live. He said that this would benefit both the Senate and the executive branch, as well as key leaders in the sector.

Lokpobiri stressed that a live broadcast would be important due to the serious nature of the investigation into alleged economic sabotage and the importation of substandard products.

"We are committed to supporting Dangote Refinery; we are also supporting modular refineries and we have been resolving whatever issues they had brought to our attention," he added.