The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) is under intense scrutiny as local refineries, including the Port Harcourt Refinery, remain nonfunctional despite multiple assurances of progress.
Advocacy group Niger Delta Development & Transformation Initiative (NDDTI) has accused NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, of providing misleading timelines and failing to meet key deadlines.
“NNPCL has shifted the goalposts countless times,” stated NDDTI spokesperson Barr. Lawrence Etienne. “It promised mechanical completion in July 2024 and refinery operations in August, yet nothing has been delivered.”
The group also criticized Kyari’s 2019 commitment that all four Nigerian refineries would be operational by the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, a promise that remains unfulfilled.
Meanwhile, Nigerians continue to face skyrocketing fuel prices and reliance on imported petroleum products, further straining the economy.
Defending the delays, NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer Olufemi Soneye cited unforeseen challenges in rehabilitating the Port Harcourt Refinery but failed to provide a revised timeline for its completion.
However, NDDTI has demanded Kyari’s resignation, arguing that the nation requires effective leadership to revive the refineries.
“The NNPCL must stop deceiving Nigerians. If Kyari cannot deliver, he should step aside,” Etienne emphasized.
Many Nigerians are calling for immediate action to address the crisis, highlighting the urgent need for transparency and accountability in public resource management.
