Presidency to Nigerians: Ignore naysayers, PH refinery receives regular crude oil supplies

Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to disregard naysayers and false information about the operations of the Port Harcourt refinery.

On November 26, the refinery commenced crude oil processing after several years of being moribund.

The state-owned plant also commenced the loading of petroleum products for trucks.

However, some Nigerians have expressed doubt about the operational capacity of the refinery.

In a post on X on Thursday, Onanuga said the refinery receives regular crude supplies, contrary to claims that it lacks crude to refine.

“Nigerians must ignore naysayers and false information about the refinery’s operations. While it is not currently running at 100%, it is functioning at 70% installed capacity, with plans to increase production shortly,” he said.

“Furthermore, the refinery receives regular crude supplies, contrary to claims that it lacks crude to refine.”

According to the presidential spokesperson, the conclusions were made during a visit by a fact-finding team to the 60,000 barrels daily Port Harcourt Refining Complex on December 4.

“I will now share our findings. Our mission was to verify the rumours circulating about the refinery’s state, and I am pleased to report that we were satisfied with what we saw,” he said.

“Our team, guided by the refinery’s Managing Director Ibrahim Onoja, toured the entire complex, from the computerised control room to the loading bay and every section in between.

“We asked pointed questions and received satisfactory answers, dispelling our doubts and misconceptions.”

‘REFINERY PROCESSING DIESEL, PETROL AND LPG’

During the visit, Onanuga said the team verified that the refinery processes petroleum products, including kerosene, low-pour fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), diesel, and petrol.

“The latter is blended with other products to make the petrol we use in our cars. We even tested samples of the products,” he said.

“The refinery’s recent overhaul has transformed it into a modern facility. We saw upgraded and replaced parts, including part of the 300km new pipelines.

“Some parts the company had not changed in 27 years have been replaced with new ones, bringing the refinery up to 21st-century standard.”

The spokesperson said the revamping work has “indeed brought the refinery back to life,” adding that what was formerly a 20th-century refinery has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility.

Onanuga said the team also visited the co-located second Port Harcourt refinery, commissioned in 1989, adding that workers were busy dismantling old, rusty parts and installing new ones.

“Although officials declined to provide a timeline for its completion, there was an air of confidence that it would soon be operational, joining its 60,000 barrels a day counterpart,” the spokesperson said.

“My curiosity has been satisfied. I commend NNPC Limited and the refinery team for reviving this dead asset, which was on the verge of becoming a museum piece.”

Onanuga said the fact-finding mission “has buried the various doubts and lies about the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex”.