Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has voiced strong criticism over the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (NNPCL) recent invitation to him, describing it as disrespectful. The invitation, issued through NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, was extended following Obasanjo’s comments in an interview with Channels Television. During the interview, Obasanjo had criticized the management of Nigeria’s refineries and highlighted failed efforts to privatize them.
Obasanjo specifically pointed to the rejection of a $750 million offer by Aliko Dangote to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries during the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. This was in favor of NNPCL’s assurance that it could handle the refineries’ operations, a claim Obasanjo expressed doubt about. He also noted that despite over $2 billion spent on the refineries since 2007, there has been little progress, contrasting their inefficiency with the expected success of Dangote’s private refinery.
Responding to the NNPCL’s invitation to tour the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, Obasanjo, through his media aide Kehinde Akinyemi, criticized the corporation for choosing a public statement over a formal letter. He called the approach an insult to his office, saying, “Is that the right way to invite a former president? It is a total disrespect for the office.”
In defense, the NNPCL spokesperson stated that the refineries had undergone extensive rehabilitation and invited Obasanjo to see the improvements firsthand. However, reports have cast doubt on the progress, with limited activity at the Port Harcourt refinery and inconsistent operations.
The NNPCL’s approach was also condemned by other groups, including the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP). Afenifere’s Secretary-General, Chief Sola Ebiseni, supported Obasanjo’s critique, emphasizing that the country’s refinery mismanagement had gone on for years. CUPP’s National Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, backed Obasanjo’s call for private-sector involvement to ensure better refinery operations and accused NNPCL of politicizing the issue rather than focusing on efficiency.
Despite skepticism surrounding the refineries, NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, announced on December 31 that the Warri Refinery had resumed operations. However, Nigerians remain uncertain about the true state of the refineries’ functionality.
