By Ada Samson, Abuja
Petroleum retailers operating in the Eleme area have voiced their frustration after the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, chose not to include the Port Harcourt refinery in his itinerary while visiting another energy facility in Rivers State.
The retailers, represented by the Host Communities Bulk Retailers Association of Port Harcourt Refinery, released a formal communication expressing that they were “shocked and disappointed that the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, recently visited Rivers State, specifically the LNG facility in Bonny, without deeming it fit to visit the Port Harcourt refinery.”
The group characterized the omission as “not only a slap in the face to the workers and management of the refinery but also a clear indication of the lack of appreciation for the contributions of the refinery to the nation’s economy”.
While recognizing the significance of the NLNG installation in Bonny, the association maintained that the Port Harcourt refining complex represents a crucial component of domestic fuel production capabilities and should receive corresponding priority and acknowledgment.
“A visit to the Port Harcourt refinery by Bayo Ojulari would have been a significant morale booster and motivation to the rehabilitation team and contractors working tirelessly to restore the refinery to its optimal capacity. Such a visit would have demonstrated his commitment to the success of the refinery and the well-being of its workers,” they said.
They added that the refusal to visit the Port Harcourt refinery indicates “a lack of interest in the functionality of the plant, which is alarming”. This, they said, raises questions about the management’s priorities and commitment to revamping the refinery.
“We urge Bayo Ojulari to revisit his itinerary and pay a courtesy visit to the Port Harcourt Refinery to familiarise himself with the operations and challenges of the facility,” the statement concluded.
The Eastern Zonal Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria,Emmanuel Inimgba, last week gave Ojulari a stark choice: rectify the issues at the Port Harcourt Refinery without delay or tender his resignation.
In a statement, Inimgba expressed concerns over the delayed maintenance, saying it “is being handled unprofessionally.” He recalled that the refinery was shut down on May 24, 2025, for scheduled repairs of 30 days.
However, he lamented that the shutdown had lasted for “over 80 days without any significant activity or commitment under the administration of the new GCEO of NNPC.”
He pointed out that the refinery’s closure had cost thousands of jobs among tanker drivers,marketers, and host community members.
“Fixing the refinery would create jobs, boost the local economy, improve fuel supply and distribution, increase government revenue, enhance energy security, and improve living standards for host community members,” he said.
Inimgba stated that credible sources revealed that “contractors have withdrawn from the site due to lack of funds, and the GCEO has not visited the refinery in four months.”
While noting that IPMAN had expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s reform, he stated that the association would “not allow the GCEO’s actions to sabotage” the president’s efforts.
“If the GCEO is unable to fix the Port Harcourt refinery or demonstrate commitment to its rehabilitation, stakeholders and host communities will have no option but to call on President Tinubu to consider replacing him,” he stated.
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