Tekeme Umukoro, an energy specialist and accountability advocate, has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to explain the alleged US$3.5 billion spent on turnaround maintenance at the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries.
In a statement released on Thursday, Umukoro said the company should first provide a detailed account of those expenditures before proceeding with a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Chinese firms to restart the government‑owned refineries.
The MoU, announced by NNPCL last week, aims to revive the three refineries that have been idle or operating at reduced capacity for years. Umukoro warned that the agreement raises serious accountability concerns, noting that previous multi‑billion‑dollar rehabilitation programmes have yielded little visible progress.
“We have gathered here today because Nigeria can no longer tolerate a dangerous cycle of waste, opacity and endless promises in the management of the nation’s refineries,” Umukoro said. “Nigerians have repeatedly been told that the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries were being revived, only for those promises to collapse under the weight of poor execution, secrecy and lack of accountability.”
The energy expert’s criticism reflects a broader frustration with the refinery sector, which has long struggled with underinvestment, technical failures and management shortcomings. Since the early 2000s, successive governments have pledged to restore refining capacity to reduce reliance on imported petroleum products, yet many projects have stalled or delivered limited results.
NNPCL’s partnership with Chinese entities is part of a wider trend of attracting foreign investment to address infrastructure gaps. The details of the MoU—including the scope of work, financing arrangements and projected timelines—have not been fully disclosed.
By demanding a transparent audit of the US$3.5 billion already spent, Umukoro seeks to ensure that any further funding is linked to measurable outcomes. He urged the government and NNPCL to adopt stricter monitoring mechanisms and to make project information publicly accessible.
The call for accountability comes at a time when Nigeria faces mounting pressure to secure domestic fuel supplies and stabilise fuel prices. How NNPCL responds to Umukoro’s demand could set a precedent for future public‑private partnerships in the energy sector and influence the credibility of forthcoming refinery revitalisation efforts.
