The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to ensure that the newly signed partnership with Chinese firms for the rehabilitation of the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries produces tangible results, warning that Nigerians are exhausted by years of unfulfilled promises.
President of NUPENG, Salmon Oladiti, made the call while reacting to the agreement aimed at reviving Nigeria’s struggling refineries, describing the initiative as a crucial step toward repositioning the nation’s oil and gas sector.
Oladiti commended the Federal Government for pursuing the partnership but stressed that the prolonged failure of Nigeria’s refineries has continued to inflict severe economic hardship on citizens despite the country’s status as one of Africa’s largest crude oil producers.
According to him, the collapse of the local refining sector over the years has contributed significantly to rising fuel prices, mounting pressure on foreign exchange, inflation, unemployment, and Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported petroleum products.
He lamented that workers and ordinary Nigerians have continued to suffer the consequences of unstable fuel supply, soaring transportation costs, and worsening living conditions caused by the country’s inability to maintain sustainable local refining capacity.
The NUPENG president said the new agreement with the Chinese firms presents an opportunity to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s refining industry, create jobs, stimulate industrial growth, strengthen energy security, and reduce the economic burden associated with fuel importation.
However, Oladiti warned that Nigerians would not tolerate another failed refinery rehabilitation effort after billions of naira had previously been spent on turnaround maintenance projects with little or no meaningful outcome.
“Nigerians are tired of repeated refinery rehabilitation promises and projects that consumed huge public resources without delivering lasting results,” he stated.
He further called on all parties involved in the agreement to uphold transparency, accountability, professionalism, and timely execution to ensure the success of the refinery rehabilitation projects.
The Warri and Port Harcourt refineries have remained largely inactive for years despite several rehabilitation and maintenance interventions by successive administrations.
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