The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has announced plans to curb fuel scarcity and increase reliance on natural gas by rehabilitating three refineries. Executive Vice President Danladi Inuwa disclosed these initiatives on Wednesday during a sensitisation programme with The Natives, a civil‑society organisation based in Abuja. He indicated that the Port‑Harcourt refinery is slated to resume operations by the second quarter of 2023, while the Warri and Kaduna refineries have been contracted for rapid rehabilitation.
The programme, titled “Understanding Our National Oil Company Post‑Petroleum Industry Act,” aimed to educate the public and shift citizen involvement from protest to participation in the decision‑making processes of the profit‑oriented company. Olalekan Edwards, president of The Natives, highlighted the need for community input on key projects in host areas. “We want to change the narrative from protest to participation,” he said. “Too often we address the aftermath of misapplied funds or projects that do not benefit communities. We are demanding a role in our own affairs rather than merely protesting.”
In response, the NNPC vice president explained that the company’s conversion to a limited‑liability entity has enabled investment in infrastructure and the launch of corporate‑responsibility initiatives that promote development while ensuring energy security. “Our mandate is to guarantee national energy security,” he affirmed. “We are focusing on monetising our gas, as demonstrated by projects such as the AKK initiative. Revamping our refineries is central to this effort: the Port‑Harcourt refinery’s Area Five will be operational by the second quarter of 2023, and the Warri and Kaduna refineries are on fast‑track rehabilitation contracts to increase domestic petroleum product refining. Although challenges remain, they will be resolved soon.”
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