The National Civil Society Coalition of Nigeria (NCSCN) has announced plans to conduct an independent assessment of the Port Harcourt Refinery in January 2025.
According to the coalition, a 50-member delegation comprising strategic stakeholders and civil society leaders has been selected to undertake the visit.
The Executive Director of the council, Mr. Blessing Akinlosotu, explained that the visit aims to engage the refinery’s management and provide Nigerians with verified information on its production capacity and operational performance.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, Akinlosotu emphasized that the findings from this “strategic working visit” would be made publicly accessible to Nigerians and international interest groups to ensure transparency.
Recall that the inauguration of the 60,000 barrel-per-day production capacity plant by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, was met with celebration and fanfare.
The organisation insisted that the recently refurbished Port Harcourt Refinery (PHRC) was operational, up and running.
It urged Nigerians to see through “these lies and support the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL’s) efforts towards improving local production of petroleum products.
The statement reads: “We at the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) have become very worried over the continued peddling of falsehood against the NNPC Ltd and the recently refurbished Port Harcourt Refinery (PHRC) which we have confirmed to be operational, up and running.
“It would be recalled that, the NNPC Ltd, just a few days ago in an historic achievement, announced having exceeded its set profit projection for year 2024.The firm declared a whooping N3.29 Trillion, the highest in its history so far.“While this great news and milestone is being celebrated, it appears there is calculated media propaganda to be-cloud this feat, detract, and discredit the laudable operations at the PH Refinery.
“Available and verifiable information show that the PHRC is fully operational and delivering efficiently. It then poses a big question why some people are attempting to mislead the public with this non-operational narrative.
“Nigerians desired functional Refineries to alleviate sufferings of the people occasioned by incessant scarcity of Petroleum Products, especially during festive season, of which NNPCL and the PHRC have contributed immensely.
“This entire negative narrative might just be part of the broader strategy and politics in the industry to fight competition.
“NCSCN reaffirms for the Records that the PHRC is fully up and running. Therefore, this current attempt by some saboteurs and their media cohorts is totally unacceptable.
“It can be seen that across the country within this yuletide season, there is remarkable stability in supplies and distribution of petroleum products at stipulated prices, unlike previous years. This is a good testament to the leadership competence at the NNPCL, coupled with the functionality of the PHRC.
“The Civil Society Council, therefore, calls on Nigerians to see through these lies and support NNPCL’s efforts towards improving local production of petroleum products.”
