The House of Representatives has ordered an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of about $18 billion reportedly spent on rehabilitating Nigeria’s state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna over the past two decades.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Oluwaseun Whinghan, representing Badagry Federal Constituency of Lagos State, during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The resolution mandates the House Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream, Downstream, and Midstream), Gas Resources, and Public Assets to probe the funds appropriated and disbursed for the rehabilitation of the refineries between 2010 and 2024. The committees are to report back within four weeks.
Nigeria currently has four government-owned refineries—two in Port Harcourt and one each in Warri and Kaduna—managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). However, the facilities have remained non-functional due to years of mismanagement, vandalism, and failed turnaround maintenance projects, leaving the country dependent on imported refined products.
Whinghan expressed concern that despite the reported $18 billion spent on rehabilitation efforts over two decades, the refineries remain idle, raising questions about accountability and transparency.
He cited recent comments by business magnate Aliko Dangote and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, both of whom expressed doubts about the viability of the refineries and described the huge investments as wasteful.
The lawmaker recalled that in 2007, during Obasanjo’s administration, Dangote and other investors acquired the refineries, but the deal was later revoked by the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, which opted to fund rehabilitation with public money — a move that has not yielded tangible results.
Whinghan also referenced recent remarks by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, who acknowledged the refineries’ continued non-performance despite heavy investments and hinted at the possibility of selling the assets.
He stressed that Nigerians have become increasingly concerned over the continuous allocation of public funds to the refineries without visible progress, describing it as “a gross misuse of public funds and a betrayal of public trust.”
According to him, a transparent and comprehensive investigation is crucial to determine the current operational status of the refineries, track how funds were used, identify any acts of mismanagement or corruption, and recommend reforms to protect future public investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure.
Comments are closed.