Host communities of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) located in Eleme and Okrika Local Government Areas of Rivers State have urged the Federal Government to honour the 30-day timeline it announced for the facility’s ongoing maintenance.
Under the banner of the Host Community Bulk Petroleum Retailers Association of Port Harcourt Refinery Depot, stakeholders expressed concern over the temporary shutdown of Nigeria’s largest government-owned refinery.
They emphasized that adhering to the schedule would demonstrate the government’s sincerity and commitment to its citizens.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association, Chief Sunny Nkpe, presented the group’s seven-point resolution.
He warned that failure to complete the maintenance within the stipulated timeframe could result in artificial scarcity and skyrocketing fuel prices.
Nkpe praised President Bola Tinubu for his efforts to revitalize Nigeria’s ailing refineries but called for the immediate appointment of a substantive Managing Director for PHRC, preferably someone with in-depth knowledge of refinery operations.
He stressed that despite ongoing rehabilitation efforts, operations at the refinery remain stagnant.
“We are speaking as insiders,” Nkpe said. “Currently, nothing is happening at the refinery.
We are urging the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, to promptly appoint a capable Managing Director to drive progress.
A prolonged shutdown would negatively impact fuel prices and deepen the hardship Nigerians already face.”
The group expressed confidence in Tecnimont, the company handling the maintenance, but called for adequate funding and timely disbursement to ensure swift project delivery.
Other members of the Board of Trustees, including Administrative Secretary Joseph Obele, Administrative Chairman Tekena Ikpaiki, and Secretary Emmanuel Inimgba, voiced fears that the shutdown might be part of a larger agenda to monopolize the petroleum market.
Obele, who also serves as the National Public Relations Officer of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), stated, “This is not about personal interest. We are speaking for the good of all Nigerians.
There’s concern that this shutdown could be a calculated move to give market dominance to a private refinery.”
He recalled that in mid-2023, the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was as high as ₦1,300 per litre. However, prices dropped to between ₦800 and ₦900 after the old Port Harcourt refinery resumed partial operations later that year.
“If this shutdown persists, we could see fuel prices rise to nearly ₦2,000 per litre,” he warned.
Similarly, Ikpaiki, who chairs the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Port Harcourt branch, emphasized the broader implications of the shutdown.
“Any disruption at the refinery triggers scarcity, not just in the region, but nationwide,” he said.
“If reserves are already depleted, the country risks a severe shortage. It is crucial that the 30-day maintenance period is not exceeded.”
The group concluded by calling on all relevant authorities to ensure transparency in crude oil allocation to the refinery and to avoid actions that could create unnecessary hardship for citizens.