The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Thursday faulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim on the status of the Port Harcourt Refinery.
Consequently, it extended an invitation to the former Nigerian leader on a verification tour of the true status of the facility.
The invitation came against the backdrop of a recent interview the former president granted Channels Television, citing an advice from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) that the refinery would not function effectively.
In the interview, Obasanjo said the SPDC, which was invited to acquire equity in the refinery, expressed concerns about corruption impeding its operations.
He also claimed that NNPCL was misleading Nigerians about the refinery’s functionality, a position faulted by the national oil major through its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye.
Soneye, who respectfully invited the elder statesman, emphasised the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
In the statement titled ‘Response to Former President Obasanjo’s Comments’, the NNPCL said: “We hold President Olusegun Obasanjo in the highest regard as a respected statesman who has made significant contributions to the growth and progress of Nigeria. His dedication to national development and his right to speak on matters of national importance are both deeply respected.
“In response to his recent comments, we would like to respectfully highlight the remarkable transformation of the NNPC. Today, NNPC has evolved into NNPC Limited, a private entity that has transitioned from being a loss-making organization to becoming a profit-oriented global energy leader.
“Under this new model, NNPC Limited has expanded beyond oil and gas to become an integrated energy company. Our focus is not only on harnessing traditional resources but also on developing cleaner, cheaper, and sustainable energy solutions to meet Nigeria’s growing demands.”
While further enlightening the former president, Soneye said: “A notable achievement of NNPC Limited is the complete rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PhRC) and Warri Refinery. This is not the typical Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of the past but a comprehensive overhaul designed to meet world-class standards. Similar efforts are underway at the old Port Harcourt Refinery and Kaduna Refinery, ensuring these facilities are enhanced and maintained to global standards for sustainable operation.
“This progress has been driven by the visionary leadership of the NNPC Limited board and the management team led by GCEO Mele Kyari, alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s transformative policies in the energy sector. Together, they have achieved unprecedented milestones, setting NNPC Limited on a path to redefine energy security for Nigeria while positioning the company as a leader on the global energy stage.
“We extend an invitation to our esteemed former president to join us in this historic journey. His wisdom and experience are invaluable, and we deeply appreciate his insights and guidance, which will always be welcomed and cherished.
“Additionally, we warmly invite President Obasanjo to tour the rehabilitated refineries and witness firsthand the progress made under the leadership of NNPC Limited.
“We remain grateful for his enduring contributions to Nigeria’s development and are committed to building a brighter, more prosperous future for our nation. Together, we can continue to ensure energy security and deliver sustainable value to all Nigerians.”
…On Dangote’s $750m offer
Also in the interview, Obasanjo revealed how he sought external help to rehabilitate and manage the nation’s refineries, but such effort was met with resistance.
He said: “Later on, I called them. I called the boss of Shell to come and tell me what the problem was and he gave me four or five reasons. He said, first of all, they make a major profit from upstream, not from downstream. He said they run downstream just to keep their head above water.
“Two, our refineries were too small: 60,000 barrels 100,000 barrels and I think 120,000 barrels. He said that at that time, the average refinery was going for 250,000 barrels.
“Three, he said our refineries were not well maintained. Four, he said that there was too much corruption around the activities of our refinery and they would not want to get involved in that.”
The ex-president also said following the refusal of SPDC to offer a helping hand, Aliko Dangote assembled a team and paid $750 million to operate the refineries through a public-private partnership.
“Aliko got a team together and they paid $750m to take part in PPP (Public–Private Partnership) in running the refineries. My successor refunded their money and I went to my successor, I told him what transpired, he said NNPC said they wanted the refinery and they could run it and I said but you know they cannot run it,” Obasanjo said.
On Dangote’s capacity to manage his own refinery, he said: “I was told not too long ago that since that time, more than two billion dollars have been squandered on the refinery and they still will not work.
“If a company like Shell tells me what they told me, I will believe them. If anybody tells you now that it is working, why are they now with Aliko? And Aliko will make his own refinery work; not only make it work, he will make it deliver.”
