Petroleum marketers in Rivers State have faulted the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, for failing to visit the Port Harcourt refinery during his recent trip to the state.
Ojulari, who was in Bonny last week to tour the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) facility, bypassed the Port Harcourt refinery, a decision marketers described as “a slap in the face” to workers, contractors, and host communities.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Host Communities Bulk Retailers Association of Port Harcourt Refinery said it was “shocked and disappointed” by the snub.
“The Group Chief Executive Officer recently visited Rivers State, specifically the LNG facility in Bonny, without deeming it fit to visit the Port Harcourt refinery,” the group said. “Such an omission signals a lack of appreciation for the refinery’s contributions to the nation’s economy.”
Marketers Question NNPC Priorities
The marketers argued that while the NLNG plant is important, the Port Harcourt refinery remains central to Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and requires urgent attention.
“A visit by Bayo Ojulari would have boosted morale and motivated the rehabilitation team working to restore the refinery to full capacity,” the statement read. “Ignoring the refinery suggests a troubling lack of interest in its functionality.”
The association urged the NNPC chief to “revisit his itinerary” and hold a courtesy meeting with the refinery’s management and workers.
IPMAN Raises Alarm Over Delays
The criticism comes just days after the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) called on Ojulari to either fix the refinery or resign.
IPMAN’s Eastern Zonal Secretary, Emmanuel Inimgba, accused the NNPC of mishandling the ongoing repairs. He noted that the facility, which was shut down on May 24, 2025, for a 30-day turnaround maintenance, has now been idle for more than 80 days.
“The shutdown has dragged on without meaningful activity under the new GCEO,” Inimgba said. “Contractors have reportedly withdrawn due to lack of funds, and Ojulari has not visited the site in four months.”
He warned that the prolonged shutdown has caused thousands of job losses, from tanker drivers to marketers and host community members, worsening economic hardship in the region.
Tinubu’s Oil Reforms Under Scrutiny
Inimgba added that while marketers support President Bola Tinubu’s oil sector reforms, Ojulari’s leadership risks undermining the administration’s goals.
“If the GCEO is unable to fix the Port Harcourt refinery or show commitment to its rehabilitation, host communities will have no choice but to urge President Tinubu to consider replacing him,” he said.
NNPC Silent on Controversy
Efforts to obtain a response from NNPC were unsuccessful. The company has not appointed a spokesperson since the resignation of Olufemi Soneye in June, leaving media inquiries unanswered. Emails and messages sent to official channels also received no response.
Earlier this month, NNPC reiterated that it would not sell the refinery, stressing its commitment to completing “high-grade rehabilitation.”
Meanwhile, reports suggest that some workers at the Warri refinery have gone unpaid for months. When contacted, NUPENG President Williams Akporeha declined to comment.
The Port Harcourt refinery—Nigeria’s largest—has long been at the center of debate over the country’s chronic fuel shortages and dependence on imports. The latest standoff adds to concerns about whether long-delayed rehabilitation plans will ever be realized.