The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the recently sacked Managing Directors and top executives of Nigeria’s three major refineries—Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company—over alleged mismanagement of nearly $3bn allocated for refinery rehabilitation.

According to EFCC insiders, the funds under investigation include $1.56bn for Port Harcourt Refinery, $740.6m for Kaduna Refinery, and $656.9m for the Warri Refinery. The former MD of Port Harcourt Refining Company is Ibrahim Onoja, while Efifia Chu held the same position at Warri Refinery.

N80bn Discovered in Bank Accounts

Sources within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) revealed that a staggering N80bn was traced to the bank accounts of one of the sacked MDs, raising serious concerns about financial misappropriation on a scale rivaling previous national scandals.

Refineries Under Investigation

EFCC investigations have zeroed in on the performance and fund management of the three state-owned refineries. Despite public announcements of operational resumption in late 2024, the facilities have been plagued by shutdowns, underperformance, and internal disputes.

The Warri Refinery, which resumed operations in December 2024, shut down barely a month later due to safety concerns. Similarly, the Port Harcourt Refinery, revamped at a cost of $1.5bn, has reportedly struggled to exceed 40% of its production capacity.

On Tuesday, The PUNCH reported the termination of the MDs, alongside other senior officials, including Bala Wunti, a former NAPIMS chief. The EFCC has since launched a full-scale investigation into the management of the rehabilitation contracts.

“Some have been arrested already, and we are still on the lookout for others. Nigerians are interested in seeing our refineries work. We are asking: where is the money, and what has happened to the refineries?”
— EFCC official (anonymous)

Mele Kyari, 13 Others Under Probe

A confidential EFCC document obtained by Saturday PUNCH, dated April 28, 2025, confirmed that former NNPCL GCEO, Mele Kyari, and 13 senior officials are also under investigation for abuse of office and financial misappropriation.

Named in the probe are: Abubakar Yar’Adua, Isiaka Abdulrazak, Umar Ajiya, Dikko Ahmed, Ademoye Jelili, Mustapha Sugungun, Kayode Adetokunbo, Efiok Akpan, Babatunde Bakare, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, Bello Kankaya, and Desmond Inyama.

Public Distrust Over Failed Refinery Projects

Despite claims by NNPCL, recent revelations suggest the $897m Warri refinery upgrade failed shortly after launch. According to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the refinery’s crude distillation unit failed in January 2025, halting production altogether.

A similar situation plagues the Port Harcourt refinery, which has remained below 42.2% operational capacity six months after its recommissioning.

“The Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company was shut down on 25th Jan. 2025 due to safety concerns over the CDU Main Heater,” — NMDPRA Document

At a recent site visit, Saturday PUNCH journalists found no fuel trucks or activity. Staff refused comments, and security denied access to non-employees.

Expert Reactions: “Charade”, “Scandal”

Energy analyst Kelvin Emmanuel, speaking on Arise News, described the refinery commissioning ceremonies as a “charade,” stating:

“These refineries were never set to resume operation. The 46km pipeline to Warri is out of service. They don’t have the catalytic reforming units to convert Naphtha to PMS.”

Another industry expert, Dan Kunle, criticized the government’s failure to engage the original Japanese builders of the Kaduna refinery, calling the situation a national embarrassment and waste of public funds.

“Kaduna refinery has no pipeline to feed it. Even if you fix it with $800m, how will crude get there? All three refineries are a money pit,” he added.

Planned Strike Threatens Restart

Efforts to restart Warri refinery’s CDU and VDU units are now jeopardized by an indefinite strike scheduled for May 5, 2025, by support staff over issues of casualisation and broken promises on improved pay.

Union leader, Dafe Ighomitedo, said:

“We were promised a better salary structure once the refinery restarted, but that promise remains unfulfilled.”

IPMAN, PETROAN Speak Out

Harry Okenini, Delta Chairman of IPMAN, decried the lack of petrol availability from Warri refinery months after its recommissioning, blaming inconsistent supply on price hikes at private depots.

Meanwhile, PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harry, insisted their earlier evaluation showed functional refineries but agreed that the situation warranted a fresh inspection.

“If they are not working now, PETROAN will revisit and assess the situation,” he said.