Femi Fani-Kayode Defends NNPC’s Port Harcourt Refinery Revival Amid Criticism
Femi Fani-Kayode, former Nigerian Minister of Tourism, has come out in defense of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) following recent criticism surrounding the revival of the Port Harcourt Refinery. In a statement released via his official X handle on Thursday, Fani-Kayode criticized those in the private sector of the oil and gas industry who, he claims, are attempting to undermine the revitalization efforts of the refinery and downplay its significance.
Fani-Kayode’s remarks were in response to growing skepticism over the true nature of the Port Harcourt Refinery’s production, especially after the NNPCL announced that it had begun trucking out petroleum products on Tuesday. The announcement had been met with claims from some quarters, including Timothy Mgbere, the Secretary of the Alesa community stakeholders, who alleged on Arise Television that the refinery was merely trucking out old stock, rather than freshly refined products.
Addressing these claims, Fani-Kayode pointed fingers at certain elements within the private sector who, according to him, are orchestrating a campaign to discredit the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He accused these critics of deliberately seeking to diminish the significance of the Port Harcourt Refinery’s revival, which he described as a major victory for Nigeria.
He emphasized that the oil sector, with its complexities and scale, cannot be compared to industries that deal in consumer goods like sugar, cement, and spaghetti. Fani-Kayode specifically aimed his comments at Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Refinery, warning that the effort to create a monopoly in the oil industry would not succeed in the same way it had for other commodities.
“The oil business is not the same as selling sugar, spaghetti, cement, or rice,” Fani-Kayode stated. “No matter how hard you try, you cannot muscle your way and create a monopoly on the sale of refined products as you did for other commodities over the years.”
In his statement, Fani-Kayode expressed optimism for the future of NNPCL and the Port Harcourt Refinery, asserting that the refinery’s resurrection is a monumental achievement for the country. He also stressed that the success of the NNPCL should not be undermined, and that the development of Nigeria’s oil sector should be a collective goal, benefiting both state-owned and privately owned refineries.
“The resurrection of the Port Harcourt refinery is one of the most encouraging things that has happened in the petroleum sector for many years,” Fani-Kayode said. “The credit for this must go to President Tinubu and the GMD of NNPC. It is a pity that some elements in the private sector who are new in the field are doing all they can to undermine and understate this great victory for Nigeria.”
Fani-Kayode further praised Mele Kyari for his leadership and dedication to revitalizing the NNPCL, and he encouraged Nigerians to rally behind the success of the refinery and the broader goals of the Nigerian oil sector. He also called for the flourishing of other NNPCL refineries, noting that this would ultimately benefit the Nigerian people.
“NNPC will go from strength to strength, and once its other refineries are working as well, Nigerians will have cause to smile again,” Fani-Kayode said. “Let the new kid on the block flourish, but let the NNPC refineries flourish too. That should be our goal and not a squalid attempt to discredit NNPC and its leadership.”
The former minister concluded by affirming that every true Nigerian should be proud of the achievements under President Tinubu’s administration, particularly in relation to the oil sector. He expressed confidence that the success of the Port Harcourt Refinery represents renewed hope for the country and its citizens.
“Every optimistic and true lover of Nigeria’s progress and President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda must be proud of the GMD Mele Kyari,” he said. “His tenacity, bravery, ingenuity, and forthrightness have been rewarded with this great feat. Surely this is hope renewed for Nigerians.”
The announcement that the Port Harcourt Refinery has begun producing petroleum products marks a significant milestone for Nigeria’s oil sector, which has faced decades of inefficiency and underperformance. Fani-Kayode’s defense of the refinery’s revival comes amid ongoing debates about its viability and the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
