President Bola Tinubu has praised the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited for successfully restarting crude oil processing at the Port Harcourt refinery. The milestone follows three years of extensive rehabilitation work, marking a significant step toward energy sufficiency in Nigeria.
In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Tinubu urged the NNPC to expedite the reactivation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries, as well as the second Port Harcourt refinery. He also acknowledged the role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive overhaul of the country’s refineries.
“The President acknowledges the pivotal role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all our refineries and expresses gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing this critical project,” the statement read.
Tinubu commended NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari for his dedication and leadership in overcoming challenges to achieve the refinery’s revival. He stressed that resuming petrol production at the Port Harcourt refinery would bolster domestic output and position Nigeria as a key energy hub.
“These efforts will significantly enhance domestic production capacity alongside the contributions of privately-owned refineries and make our country a major energy hub, with the gas sector also enjoying unprecedented attention by the administration,” Onanuga said.
The President also appealed to Nigerians to safeguard public infrastructure and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to energy security, export capacity, and economic growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The revitalisation of the Port Harcourt refinery is seen as a critical step in reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel and improving the nation’s energy landscape.