Stop blaming past govts for refineries’ woes, Atiku tells Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu over allegations that the current administration is deflecting blame for the ongoing challenges facing Nigeria's state-owned petroleum refineries onto previous governments. In a public statement released through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Sunday, Atiku asserted that the Tinubu administration can no longer shift responsibility for the financial troubles of the refineries after more than three years in power. Atiku based his claims on data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which indicated that the total obligations of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries to NNPCL surged from approximately ₦4.52 trillion in 2023 to ₦8.67 trillion in 2024. This represents an increase of roughly ₦4.15 trillion within a single year, prompting Atiku to question the financial commitments made to the refineries and the benefits derived by Nigerians from such investments. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate also referenced a recent acknowledgment by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, who stated in February 2026 during a fireside chat at the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja that the state-owned refineries were operating at a "monumental loss." Ojulari noted that continuing operations under the current arrangement was eroding value, citing an internal assessment showing low utilization rates, a lack of a viable path to profitability, and persistent financial losses. Atiku highlighted what he viewed as a contradiction in the Federal Government's portrayal of the refinery rehabilitation program. He pointed out that when the cameras were rolling in November 2024, the Tinubu administration proudly informed Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery had returned to operation. NNPCL announced that the facility was running at 70 percent of its installed capacity and presented this as a notable achievement under President Tinubu's leadership. However, following the initial celebrations, the administration appears to be attempting to reframe the situation, suggesting that the refineries are simply liabilities inherited from prior administrations. According to Atiku, this narrative contradicts the earlier claims of success. In late November 2024, NNPCL officially declared that the aging 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and that trucks had started loading petrol, diesel, and kerosene. The company stated at the time that the facility was operating at 70 percent of its installed capacity, with plans to boost utilization to 90 percent. Atiku urged President Tinubu to accept accountability for both the achievements and shortcomings of his administration. “Mr President, you claimed the refinery when you thought it was working. You cannot disown it now that the smoke has cleared,” he remarked. The ADC candidate called upon the Federal Government to provide clarity regarding the substantial rise in refinery obligations, exceeding ₦4 trillion in just one year, and to explain what tangible benefits Nigerians received from the associated expenditures. He questioned where the funds went, where the products were, and where the savings promised to citizens were located, emphasizing the need for transparency. This controversy arises amid prolonged efforts by successive administrations to rejuvenate Nigeria's state-owned refineries. The Port Harcourt refinery's rehabilitation was heralded by NNPCL in November 2024 as a crucial milestone toward restoring domestic refining capabilities. NNPCL stated that the old refinery was producing petroleum products and described its restart as a significant development.