ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A coalition of ethnic groups from Niger Delta’s oil-producing communities has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently restore operations at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, emphasizing that doing so is vital for the region’s economic health.
Over 300 coalition members gathered at the NNPCL Zonal Office in Warri, Delta State—home to both the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)—on Friday to protest what they describe as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) neglect of the refineries.
President and National Coordinator of the coalition, Emmanuel F. Pathfinder, led the protest, urging President Tinubu to support local refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, as a means to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel.
READ ALSO: S’Korean Investors Set To Build Four Refineries In Nigeria -FG
In a protest letter, the group appealed to President Tinubu to enforce the National Executive Council’s (NEC) resolution directing the NNPCL to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery in naira, a measure they believe could help bring down fuel prices for Nigerians.
According to the group, “we are calling on President Tinubu to overhaul NNPCL and remove corrupt officials who are colluding with oil cabals to keep our refineries down.
“This protest is our way of expressing discontent over the abandonment of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. NNPCL’s involvement with certain oil cabals, who profit billions from fuel importation, must stop.”
The group further alleged that an oil cabal is actively working to block efforts to end fuel importation, claiming that these actions are being carried out under the watch of NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.
“It’s troubling that Kyari has failed to reactivate Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, while seemingly supporting the interests of import-dependent cabals. We commend Alhaji Aliko Dangote recent efforts with a 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lagos.”