Precious Anga
Lagos — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asked the Federal Government to suspend and openly review the recent partnership involving NNPC and two Chinese firms for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
Atiku described the agreement as another risky move involving critical national assets, warning that Nigerians should not be asked to trust fresh refinery promises after years of failed rehabilitation efforts and billions of dollars already spent on turnaround maintenance.
The opposition figure questioned the technical competence of the Chinese firms named in the deal Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd. According to him, available records do not show that the companies possess strong experience in managing large-scale crude oil refineries like those in Port Harcourt and Warri.
He argued that Sanjiang Chemical is largely known for petrochemical and chemical processing operations rather than operating ageing national refineries with complex infrastructure challenges. He also criticised the involvement of Xingcheng, saying the company’s background appears more connected to industrial park management than refinery engineering.
Atiku said the partnership raised concerns about transparency and due process, especially at a time when Nigerians are demanding accountability in the management of public assets. He questioned why globally recognised refinery engineering and EPC companies were allegedly overlooked for firms with limited refinery operational records.
The former vice president further claimed that financial concerns surrounding one of the firms also deserved closer scrutiny, arguing that Nigeria cannot afford another costly refinery arrangement that may fail to deliver results.
According to him, the Federal Government risks repeating past mistakes if the agreement proceeds without proper public examination and technical verification.
The statement adds to the growing debate surrounding Nigeria’s refinery rehabilitation strategy, particularly as the country continues to battle fuel import dependence despite repeated government assurances on refinery revival.
This article was originally posted at sweetcrudereports.com
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