Despite over $3 billion allocated for their rehabilitation, the Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri refineries remain largely non-operational, Sunday PUNCH findings have revealed. Visits to the facilities by correspondents confirmed that the substantial funds, currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have failed to yield the intended results, with refinery workers reportedly resuming and leaving at will due to a lack of productive activities.
The challenges reflect Nigeria’s long-standing struggle with state-owned refineries, which have cost the country billions in lost revenue due to reliance on imported petroleum products. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has overseen multiple rehabilitation efforts since the early 2000s, yet promises of operational revival remain unmet.
At the Port Harcourt Refining Company, once a hub for petrol, diesel, kerosene, and petrochemical production, brief operations resumed in November 2024 but quickly stalled. A 30-day shutdown for maintenance was announced in May 2025, and subsequent visits found the facility dormant, with only administrative tasks ongoing. Independent marketers lamented that the refinery is producing nothing and accused the government of misleading Nigerians with the 2024 inauguration of part of the plant.
Similarly, the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, which had a brief resumption in December 2024 following a $897.6 million rehabilitation allocation, was found inactive during recent inspections. Sources indicated that staff attend work mainly for routine administration, with no production occurring, while maintenance awaits policy directives from NNPCL leadership.
The Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company tells a similar story. Residents report seeing no operational activity despite repeated promises from the NNPCL. A $740.6 million contract for “quick-fix” repairs, signed in 2023 with a projected 60 per cent production capacity by December 2024, has not yielded results. Locals say the prolonged idleness has devastated livelihoods, with once-thriving shops and transport businesses now struggling.
The EFCC is investigating allegations of fund mismanagement linked to the $3 billion rehabilitation effort. Meanwhile, NNPCL spokesperson Andy Odeh affirmed the company’s commitment to providing a lasting solution, noting that detailed technical and commercial reviews of the three refineries are ongoing.
Reported by: Stone Reporters News
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