Petroleum marketers in Nigeria have voiced support for President Bola Tinubu's plan to revive state-owned NNPC refineries [1].
The dispute centers on whether Nigeria can end its reliance on imported fuel by repairing domestic infrastructure. Success would stabilize fuel prices and reduce the foreign exchange burden on the national economy.
Marketers expressed their backing for the revival of refineries located in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna [2]. This support comes as a direct response to assertions made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo said the refineries will never work again [1].
Industry stakeholders said the pessimistic assessment provided by the former president is unfounded [1]. They believe the determination of the current administration can overcome the technical and systemic failures that have plagued the plants for years [1].
While the focus remains on energy infrastructure, the administration has also moved to secure funding for other national priorities. President Tinubu recently moved unclaimed dividends amounting to N242 billion [3] to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) [3].
The disagreement between the current administration's goals and Obasanjo's outlook highlights a deep divide over the viability of state-managed assets. Marketers said they remain confident in the government's ability to restore operational capacity to the three facilities [1].
“Petroleum marketers in Nigeria have voiced support for President Bola Tinubu's plan to revive state-owned NNPC refineries.”
The conflict between President Tinubu and former President Obasanjo represents a broader debate over Nigeria's industrial strategy. By attempting to revive the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, the government is betting on the recovery of legacy state assets rather than pivoting entirely to private-sector modular refineries. If the revival fails, it may validate Obasanjo's skepticism and force a total restructuring of how the country processes its crude oil.
