The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has hailed the reopening of the Warri Refinery as an unanticipated New Year gift to Nigerians by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The group made this assertion in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr. Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Mr. Dapo Okubanjo, on Thursday in Abuja.
The group described the completion of the first phase of the rehabilitation of the 125,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) refinery as a pleasant surprise, noting that the milestone was achieved without fanfare.
“Coming just weeks after the 60,000 bpd Port Harcourt refinery was brought back online in November, this development caught many Nigerians off guard,” the statement read. “Not many expected the Warri Refinery to resume operations so soon.”
TMSG commended the efforts initiated under former President Muhammadu Buhari, who in 2021 embarked on an overhaul of all four government-owned refineries. The group noted that the refineries had remained dormant for 16 years, with previous administrations under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spending millions of dollars on Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) without results.
The statement highlighted that President Tinubu, upon assuming office, pledged to complete the rehabilitation efforts initiated by his predecessor while steering Nigeria toward becoming a net exporter of petroleum products.
The group acknowledged skepticism from some quarters regarding the refinery rehabilitation process. Critics had previously claimed that Nigeria had squandered over $3 billion on refineries that failed to produce petroleum products. However, TMSG lauded the Warri Refinery for now producing diesel (AGO), kerosene, and naphtha, emphasizing that many Nigerians could not recall the last time the plant was operational at such a level. “While it is not yet running at full capacity, this achievement marks a significant milestone,” the group stated.
Describing the refinery’s reopening as the dawn of a new year for Nigerians, TMSG called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to expedite repairs on the Kaduna Refinery and the larger 150,000 bpd Port Harcourt Refinery. The group urged accelerated efforts to bolster Nigeria’s status as Africa’s leading petroleum refiner.
“TMSG is confident that the Bola Tinubu administration will take further steps to ensure that Nigeria’s refineries are managed efficiently this time to fully realize the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement concluded.
The reopening of the Warri Refinery, seen as a cornerstone of economic revival, sets a promising tone for 2025 and beyond, offering Nigerians optimism for the administration’s broader plans.
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