The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to explain to Nigerians why its Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries are currently not producing petroleum products.
Lokpobiri made the statement on Tuesday during an interview with Channels Television, citing a briefing from NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari.
According to the minister, the three state-owned refineries are not currently producing refined petroleum products despite between N23.84 trillion and N33.11 trillion reportedly being spent on turnaround maintenance over the past two decades.
“The last brief I got from the GCEO is that it’s very unfortunate that the Port Harcourt refinery, Warri refinery and Kaduna refinery are not producing today,” Lokpobiri said.
He added that new partnerships were being negotiated with Chinese companies to invest in and rehabilitate the refineries.
Asked whether those who previously assured Nigerians that the refineries were operational should be punished, Lokpobiri said NNPCL should be invited to account for the expenditure and explain the situation.
His comments come amid petrol prices of between N1,395 and N1,450 per litre in Abuja and its environs.
The Port Harcourt Refinery had been announced as having resumed operations on November 26, 2024, under former NNPCL GCEO Mele Kyari, but the facility was shut down again on May 24, 2025.
