President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his immense satisfaction at the reopening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Describing the milestone as a significant achievement in 2024, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigerians’ confidence in his leadership and driving the nation toward energy security.
The reopening of the Warri Refinery comes just weeks after NNPCL successfully restarted operations at the 60,000-barrels-per-day (bpd) Port Harcourt Refinery in November. This latest development marks the revival of another critical national asset that had been inactive for several years.
President Tinubu commended the Mele Kyari-led NNPCL management for their dedication to restoring Nigeria’s oil refining capacity. He highlighted that with the 125,000-bpd Warri Refinery now operating at 60% capacity, the government’s efforts to ensure energy efficiency and position Nigeria as a hub for downstream industrial activities in Africa are firmly on track.
“The restart of Warri Refinery today brings joy and gladness to me and Nigerians,” Tinubu said. “This will further strengthen the hope and confidence of Nigerians for a greater and better future that we promised. This development is a remarkable way to end the year, following the feat recorded earlier with the Port Harcourt Refinery. I congratulate Mele Kyari and his team at NNPCL for working hard to restore our national pride and make Nigeria a hub for crude oil refining in Africa.”
The rehabilitation of the Warri Refinery is part of a broader plan initiated under the All Progressives Congress-led administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, which awarded contracts to overhaul all four state-owned refineries. President Tinubu has emphasized his administration’s determination to accelerate repair work on the Kaduna Refinery and the second 150,000-bpd Port Harcourt Refinery to consolidate Nigeria’s position as a global energy leader.
The Warri Refinery will focus on producing essential petroleum products, including Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and heavy and light Naphtha.
President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s comprehensive strategy to ensure energy sufficiency, reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel, and boost industrial activity in the downstream sector.
With this achievement, Nigeria inches closer to becoming a self-sufficient energy provider and a leader in crude oil refining across the African continent.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy)
December 30, 2024
