President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on the successful revitalisation of the Port Harcourt refinery and directed the company to accelerate the reactivation of the country’s other dormant refineries.
The president’s commendation followed the commencement of petroleum product loading at the Port Harcourt refinery on Tuesday, marking a major milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to restore domestic refining capacity.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu acknowledged the role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries.
The president also appreciated the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) for providing financing support for the Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation project.
Tinubu commended the leadership of NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, describing his commitment and persistence as instrumental to overcoming challenges associated with the project.
Following the successful revival of the Port Harcourt refinery, the president directed NNPCL to expedite the planned reactivation of the second Port Harcourt refinery, as well as the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
“These efforts will significantly enhance domestic production capacity alongside the contributions of privately-owned refineries and make our country a major energy hub, with the gas sector also enjoying unprecedented attention by the administration,” the statement said.
Tinubu reiterated his administration’s determination to restore Nigeria’s public refineries and end the situation where the country, despite being a major crude oil producer, relies heavily on imported refined petroleum products.
He stressed the importance of patience, integrity and accountability in the rehabilitation of critical national infrastructure, urging public officials, institutions and citizens entrusted with national responsibilities to remain focused and uphold the confidence placed in them.
The president said the refinery revival programme aligns with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to promote shared economic prosperity and strengthen the country’s energy sector.
He reaffirmed his commitment to achieving greater energy sufficiency, improving national energy security and increasing Nigeria’s capacity to export refined petroleum products.
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