The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has accused Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), of neglecting the revival of the Port Harcourt Refinery, as stated by PETROAN’s Eastern Zone Chairman, Sunny Nkpe, on August 11, 2025. Nkpe, after visiting the Old Port Harcourt Refinery (Area 5), criticized the “slow pace of activity” following its shutdown on May 24, 2025, for a scheduled 30-day repair that has not progressed, alleging Ojulari’s lack of commitment as he has not visited the site in his four months in office. He claimed contractors are owed payments for over a year, with repairs on Units 12 and 14 nearly complete before Ojulari’s tenure, and accused NNPCL of enabling private refinery monopolies, impacting jobs and fuel prices in cities like Aba, Enugu, and Makurdi.
PETROAN’s allegations contrast with earlier claims by its National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Obele, who, on November 29, 2024, stated the refinery was operating at 70% capacity with plans to reach 90%, as reported by Business Post, though recent reports suggest ongoing delays. Nkpe urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene, warning that stakeholders, including PETROAN, IPMAN, and NUPENG, may disrupt the petroleum distribution network if the refinery remains dormant. Meanwhile, two northern groups, the Arewa Community for Empowerment and Development and Arewa Consultative Youth Movement, have sued NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, in Kaduna’s Federal High Court, alleging his role in failed refinery projects and the controversial OVH Energy acquisition.
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