PETROAN accuses Ojulari of neglecting Port Harcourt Refinery, threatens action

Mkpoikana Udoma

Port Harcourt — The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, has accused the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited, Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari, of showing “lack of passion” for the Port Harcourt Refinery, warning that stakeholders are mobilising for decisive action if the facility is not revived.

Speaking to journalists, PETROAN Zonal Chairman, Eastern Zone, High Chief Sunny Nkpe, said it was “worrying” that Ojulari had not physically visited the refinery in his four months in office, despite its strategic importance to the nation’s fuel supply.

“It is disturbing that the current Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL has not yet visited the Port Harcourt Refinery physically within four months in office, indicating a lack of passion for its functionality,” Nkpe said.

Nkpe who said he has visited the old Port Harcourt Refinery (Area 5) on a fact-finding mission, expressed concern over the “slow pace of activity” at the facility, which was shut down on May 24, 2025, for what was supposed to be a 30-day scheduled repair.

According to him, contractors on site lamented being owed for over a year without funding.

“All was set for the Old Port Harcourt Refinery to commence production, before the new Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC gave no commitment and showed lack of interest, which signals support to give a competitive advantage to private refineries to gain monopoly and exploit Nigerians with outrageous prices for petroleum products,” he alleged.

The PETROAN zonal chairman warned that the prolonged dormancy of the refinery was crippling jobs and livelihoods.

“Thousands of tanker drivers are out of job, including staff of PETROAN and IPMAN. It is imperative that we agree on legitimate options to call for the revival of the Port Harcourt Refinery,” Nkpe said.

He revealed plans to consult with all affected stakeholders, including the Industrial Motor Branch, IMB, and Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of NUPENG, as well as the leadership of PETROAN, IPMAN, PENGASSAN, and Sutakep.

Nkpe stressed that restarting operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery would help stabilise petrol prices, reduce the dominance of private refineries, and restore supply to major cities across the country.

“The Port Harcourt refinery is key to the supply chain, supplying to major cities like Aba, Enugu, Makurdi, and other key states,” he said.

Calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, Nkpe said, “Such unnecessary delays look orchestrated and appear to be coming from vested interests who intend to sabotage the vision of Mr. President.”

He recalled that during the seven months the old Port Harcourt Refinery operated recently, “economic activities regained boom, petty traders within the host communities celebrated, jobs were created, and above all, the prices of petroleum products were stable.”

Asked whether stakeholders might shut down the petroleum distribution network or back civil society calls for Ojulari’s removal, Nkpe said the decision would be taken collectively.

“Stakeholders are ready to support the reform agenda of President Tinubu and will not sit to see any person or group frustrating the efforts of Mr. President in making the refinery functional,” he said.