…say fuel could rise to N2,000 a litre
The Host Community Bulk Petroleum Retailers Association of Port Harcourt Refinery Depot, has raised an alarm over an alleged attempt by an interest group to sabotage the operations of the Port Harcourt refinery.
At a press conference in Port Harcourt, the Host Community retailers association, said the interest group was bent on stalling operations at the Port Harcourt refinery so that an unnamed private refinery could benefit from the shutdown.
The Group Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had ordered the shutdown of the old Port Harcourt refinery for a 30-day maintenance with effect from May 24, 2025.
While commending President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to revamp the neglected public refineries, the host community retailers association cautioned that crude oil supply to the Port Harcourt refinery should not be cut off during the maintenance period.
The Chairman of the Group, Chief Sunny Nkpe, said that currently, no activity was going on at the refinery and requested the Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, to as a matter of urgency appoint a substantive managing director for Port Harcourt refinery to drive the rehabilitation of the plant.
“They said they are shutting it down for repairs. We don’t believe it. It’s an attempt to shut it down like Warri (refinery) and other areas,” Nkpe said.
The Chairman also demanded that the Refinery Coordinator, Mr.Bayo Aderenle should be removed, stating that his activities were inimical to President Tinubu’s reform agenda.
Also speaking, Dr. Joseph Obele, said the price of fuel could jump to N2,000 a litre if the shut refinery does not resume production soon.
“Recall that that last July when a particular refinery started, PMS was selling for N1,000 per litre. As at October/November when the old refinery came on, it came down to about eight to nine hundred naira.
“Nigerians should understand that this recent shutdown could be an orchestrated way to give monopoly to a particular refinery and if that happens, Nigerians will buy fuel at N2,000 per litre,” Obele said.
The host Community retailers association however passed a vote of confidence on Tecnimont, the contractor handling the overall rehabilitation of both the old and new refineries and called for timely and sufficient funding of the rehabilitation projects.
