Reps To Probe $18bn Spent On Non-Functional Refineries
The House of Representatives on Thursday announced that it would investigate the over $18 billion reportedly spent on the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna over the past two decades, without achieving tangible results.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan on the non-functionality of state-owned Refineries, during plenary.
Whingan, during the plenary, expressed concern over the persistent non-performance of the refineries despite years of turnaround maintenance projects and repeated government assurances.
He noted that the facilities remained comatose even after extensive funding and several promises of rehabilitation.
The lawmaker cited recent comments by industrialist Aliko Dangote and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, both of whom publicly cast doubt on the viability of the refineries, describing the multi-billion-dollar expenditures as wasteful and unproductive.
Whingan recalled that in 2007, under President Obasanjo’s administration, Dangote and other private investors had acquired the refineries before the decision was reversed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who instead opted for state-funded rehabilitation — a move that has since failed to yield results.
He said the recent admission by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Bayo Ojulari’s statement that the refineries remain non-functional despite the huge investments further raises questions about fiscal discipline and transparency in managing national assets.
According to him, “The continued non-functionality of these refineries despite consistent budgetary allocations and rehabilitation contracts represents a gross misuse of public funds and a betrayal of public trust.”
The House, while adopting the motion, resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee drawn from the Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream), Public Accounts, Anti-Corruption, Finance, and Legislative Compliance to probe the funds appropriated and disbursed for the rehabilitation of the refineries between 2010 and 2024.
The committee is to ascertain the current operational status of the refineries, evaluate how the funds were utilised, identify any cases of mismanagement or corruption, and recommend measures to safeguard future public investments.
The House directed the committee to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
