Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called on President Bola Tinubu to stop blaming previous administrations for the failures of Nigeria's national refineries.
The dispute highlights growing tension over the management of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, which remain central to Nigeria's energy security. Atiku said the current government must take responsibility for the massive sums spent on these facilities rather than shifting blame to the past.
Atiku questioned the financial management of the refineries under the current administration. According to reports, the combined obligations of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) rose from approximately ₦4.52 trillion at the end of 2023 to ₦8.67 trillion by the end of 2024 [1].
The former Vice President demanded transparency regarding these expenditures. He said the administration should account for a refinery bill estimated at roughly ₦4 trillion [2]. This figure represents the increase in obligations attributed to the current government's tenure.
The refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna have long struggled with operational inefficiency, and maintenance delays. While the government has frequently cited the negligence of previous leaders as the root cause, Atiku said this narrative avoids accountability for current spending.
The call for a detailed accounting comes as the country continues to struggle with fuel availability and the high cost of imports. Atiku said the government's focus should remain on fixing the facilities and explaining the disappearance of billions of naira intended for their rehabilitation.
“Stop blaming past govts for refineries’ woes”
This confrontation reflects a broader political struggle over the economic legacy of Nigeria's oil sector. By highlighting the increase in NNPCL obligations, Atiku is framing the refinery crisis not as a historical failure, but as a current fiscal management issue. If the administration cannot reconcile the ₦4 trillion increase in debt with tangible operational progress, it may face increased pressure to implement more rigorous audits of the NNPCL.
