Tinubu Commends NNPCL As PortHarcourt Refinery Commences Operations, Calls For Reactivation of Others

By:Olufemi Orunsola 

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday congratulated and commended the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNCPL) on the successful revitalization of the Port Harcourt refinery, calling for the reactivation of other refineries in the country.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the President's message was communicated via a statement by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga who revealed that President  

Tinubu welcomed the development, saying that it would deepen domestic production in the oil sector.

OTN News gathered that the Port Harcourt refinery, managed by the NNPCL through Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, has officially commenced operations after undergoing rehabilitation and modernisation.

The refinery with 210,000 bpd refining capacity located at Alesa, Eleme, in Port Harcourt, comprises two operational units established in 1965 and 1989.

OTN News further reports that the statement by the Special Adviser to the President noted that, “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".

Meanwhile, President Tinubu acknowledged the pivotal role played by the previous administration while urging the NNPCL to quicken reactivation of other refineries in the country.

According to Onanuga, “The President acknowledges the pivotal role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all our refineries and expresses gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing this critical project.”

The president further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to energy sufficiency in the country, urging Nigerians to play their part.

“The President underscores his administration’s determination to repair the nation’s refineries, aiming to eradicate the disheartening perception of Nigeria as a major crude oil producer that lacks the ability to refine its own resources for domestic consumption.

Highlighting the values of patience, integrity, and accountability in the rebuilding of the nation’s infrastructure, President Tinubu calls upon individuals, institutions, and citizens entrusted with responsibilities to maintain focus and uphold trust in their service to the nation”

However, OTN News observes that the news of the revitalization of the refinery in the Oil city has attracted swift reactions from Nigerians with many expressing utmost delight in the development which they believe will usher in a new era of competition in the country's energy sector.

Other Nigerians who took to their various social media handles, especially the X platform have expressed skepticism about the development, wondering if the refinery has truly been revitalised and fully back in operation.