The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) don yan fresh plan say by June 2026, dem go finalise selection of technical partners wey go help run Nigeria state-owned refineries. Dis come after plenty years of failed rehabilitation and sharp decline in refinery expertise.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, talk this one during question-and-answer session for press briefing for Abuja. Dem also announce say NNPCL make Profit After Tax of N5.4tn for 2024, di biggest for their history.
Ojulari yan say the state-owned refineries – Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna – still dey “well below international standards,” wey make their products no fit compete with private refineries like Dangote Refinery.
He explain say NNPCL wan work with private partners wey sabi refinery management well to revive these plants. Any partnership go depend strictly on verifiable track record, and e go be business arrangement, no be government style.
“Na business we dey look, not politics. Them go bring technical capacity, resources, and we go complement with wetin we get. But dem go lead operation, because na dem sabi di game,” Ojulari talk.
NNPCL dey even plan redesign some refineries into hybrid plants so that the fuel go meet international specifications. But firm completion dates go only dey announced after all redesign plans ready. Ojulari yan say by mid-2026, dem go get clear roadmap for completion.
He warn say if dem follow old rehabilitation plan, output still go dey “two steps below international standards.”
The three state-owned refineries, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, get total capacity of 445,000 barrels per day, but for over ten years, dem no dey run proper production despite N18tn spent on Turnaround Maintenance. Port Harcourt dey under $1.5bn rehab, Warri dey revamped with Daewoo Engineering, while Kaduna need big overhaul.
Dangote Refinery, wey dey produce Euro-V standard fuels, don show how outdated Nigeria plants be. Ojulari yan say NNPCL dey also boost crude oil output to 1.7 million barrels per day this year, with plan to reach 1.8 million barrels next year and two million barrels by 2027.
He point out say NNPCL now dey operate as limited liability company under CAMA, with more commercial freedom under Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
“NNPC no be government parastatal again. PIA give us room to make commercial deals like never before. Our partner today dey represent our image. If dem unhappy, e fit spoil reputation,” Ojulari talk.
Ojulari praise over 6,000 direct and 6,000 indirect staff for driving NNPCL turnaround. He yan say staff dey get training, tools, and autonomy to keep up with fast-changing energy technology.
Dis new strategy show say NNPCL serious about partnerships, governance reforms, transparency, and technical capacity to make Nigeria refineries competitive for Africa and global market.
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