• 30 May, 2025
• FAITH MIMDOO KEGH
• No comment

Headline: No Maintenance Ongoing at Port Harcourt Refinery, Say Marketers.

Fuel marketers in Rivers State have claimed that the Port Harcourt refinery is not undergoing any maintenance, contrary to s

tatements by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The Eleme & Okrika Host Community Bulk Petroleum Retailers Association stated that the refinery had been without crude oil for over three months before it was shut down on May 24, 2025.

Responding to the NNPC’s announcement that the shutdown was part of a planned maintenance program, the marketers argued that the real reason was a lack of crude supply. According to them, the refinery had not received sufficient crude and was unable to produce petrol, only diesel (AGO), prompting the closure.

Joseph Obele, spokesperson for the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, said the internal memo from refinery management confirmed the facility was no longer receiving petrol from processed crude. He alleged that crude intended for local refining might have been diverted for export, and urged President Bola Tinubu to investigate.

Obele also warned that the refinery could not restart operations within 30 days if it remained without crude. He emphasized that crude delivery takes weeks, and questioned why supply had stopped.

Sunny Nkpe, chairman of the association’s board of trustees, praised President Tinubu for efforts to revamp the refinery but called for steady crude allocation and the appointment of a technically qualified managing director to lead the next phase of rehabilitation.

The association also acknowledged the previous managing director, Ibrahim Onoja, for his leadership and urged contractors and NNPC to provide regular updates on the refinery’s status.

When contacted, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye reiterated that the shutdown was planned for maintenance and would follow international safety standards. He stated that the company would ensure continued supply of petroleum products during the one-month maintenance period and promised regular updates through official channels.

FAITH MIMDOO KEGH

Manager – Oversees the daily operations, editorial planning, and strategic direction of the platform. A graduate with a solid academic foundation in media and communication, Faith brings a wealth of experience to the TokinPoint.

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