Why NNPC’s rehabilitation of refineries across the nation seem like a charade—Comrade Prince Saviour Iche
By Onome Naomi
Following the December 30th, 2024, announcement by Mele Kyari that the Warri refinery is ready for production of petroleum products and other refineries across the country are in rehabilitation, Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, President Ambassador of Peace Foundation ‘AMPEF’ (Voice of the Voiceless), is saying Nigerians will only believe the refineries are in rehabilitation/functional when the results are evident.
Meanwhile, the executive chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, who visited the facility, has revealed that the Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC), with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, has resumed operations at 60 percent capacity in Warri, Delta State.
Iche claims that previously, the chairman of the NNPCL group has announced similar progress, raising false hopes that some refineries are ready for operation. It is advisable that Nigerians wait to see the evidence by NNPC, which has bred falsehood consistently.
He further said,
“Nigerians should not rejoice yet, as they (NNPC) said the same thing a countless number of times, which all turned out to be propaganda. Nigerians shouldn’t take them seriously, especially under this administration.”
“NNPC has turned out to be a thorn in the flesh of Nigerians; they have made so many billions from Nigerians in revenue and spent billions also on the rehabilitation of refineries, yet there is nothing to show for it.”
“NNPC claims rehabilitation of refineries every year, yet we see nothing; Nigerians should be able to get fuel at a cheaper price if the refineries are functional as they say and should take effect in no time. Their workings should reflect on the price of petroleum products.”
Comrade Prince Saviour, in reference, mentioned that former president Olusegun Obasanjo doubted NNPC’s claim of the operational readiness of the Warri refinery due to antecedents. He said Nigerians need a transparent government; also, the Dangote refinery has no impact on Nigerians unless petroleum products are brought down.
In a statement released on Thursday, December 2nd, 2025, Olufemi Soneye, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, clarified that the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries was not the typical Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) that has been carried out in the past.
Soneye stressed that this rehabilitation is a complete overhaul of the refineries, with the goal of enhancing their operational efficiency and ensuring they are capable of meeting world-class standards for sustained and reliable production.
As of Dec. 30, 2024, the Warri refinery had resumed operations after several years of inactivity, with the complex now operating at 60% of its nameplate capacity, NNPCL and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said in a series of separate posts to their official social media accounts.
In response to the aforementioned, Iche opined that if President Tinubu and NNPC claim that Port Harcourt and Warri refineries are in the functional stage, it is a welcome development. However, the government should begin working on current prices of petroleum across the country.
In addition, the call for Mele Kyari’s resignation will be eased if he truly achieves the purpose of his appointment as chairman of NNPCL without creating false hopes as done previously to extend his stay as chairman. He has previously deceived over 200 million Nigerians about functional refineries; meanwhile, petroleum products are being imported into a country blessed with crude oil. Nigerians need transparency, Iche said.
