Port Harcourt Refinery: Oil business not same thing as selling cement, sugar – FFK tackles Dangote
Former Nigerian Minister of Tourism, Femi Fani-Kayode, has criticized detractors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) following the revival of the Port Harcourt Refinery. In a statement on his official X handle Thursday night, Fani-Kayode accused certain private-sector players in the oil and gas industry of trying to downplay the refinery’s revitalization. He specifically targeted Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Refinery, asserting that the oil business is far more complex than trading commodities like sugar, spaghetti, and cement.
His remarks followed allegations questioning the refinery's operations after NNPCL announced on Tuesday that it had begun distributing petroleum products. Timothy Mgbere, Secretary of the Alesa community stakeholders, claimed during an Arise Television interview that the refinery was merely trucking out old stock rather than freshly refined products.
Fani-Kayode, however, blamed the criticism on efforts by certain private-sector interests to discredit NNPCL’s Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He described the refinery’s revival as a significant achievement for Nigeria, saying, “The resurrection of the Port Harcourt Refinery is one of the most encouraging developments in the petroleum sector in years. Credit for this must go to the President and the GMD of NNPC.” He dismissed attempts to monopolize the refined products market, stating, “The oil business is not like selling sugar or rice. You cannot dominate and monopolize the sector as you’ve done with other commodities.”
Fani-Kayode further emphasized the importance of both NNPCL and private refineries like Dangote Refinery thriving together. He stated, “NNPC’s success benefits all Nigerians. Once its other refineries are operational, Nigerians will have even more reasons to celebrate. Let the new player flourish, but let NNPC refineries flourish too.”
He praised Mele Kyari for his dedication and ingenuity, describing the refinery's revival as a reflection of President Tinubu's “renewed hope agenda.” On Tuesday, NNPCL announced that the Port Harcourt Refinery had resumed petroleum production after years of inactivity.