In the heart of the Niger Delta, an area rich in natural resources but neglected for decades, the Port Harcourt refinery project crystallizes the hopes, frustrations and tensions of the region’s inhabitants. According to the group New Dynamics for Niger Youth (NDYN), a faction within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) is allegedly exploiting the region’s resources while keeping the Port Harcourt refinery idle despite multiple promises. Dakuku Francis, NDYN spokesperson, points to growing frustration in the region, pointing to six successive postponements of the refinery’s launch dates, the most recent being NNPCL CFO Umar Ajiya’s promise to start operations in September 2024.
“NNPCL’s lack of transparency and accountability has exacerbated regional tensions. We demand answers and action from the company as these repeated delays are part of a larger conspiracy to exploit our region’s resources,” Francis says.
The 210,000 barrel per day refinery was expected to boost Nigeria’s oil and gas sector by processing 60,000 barrels per day following the completion of mechanical rehabilitation works in December. However, with September now behind them, no specific date for operation has been set, leaving stakeholders disillusioned and suspicious of NNPCL’s intentions.
Francis accuses NNPCL Managing Director Mele Kyari of planning to remodel the Port Harcourt facility into a “blend company” rather than a full-fledged refinery, alleging that Kyari aims to import fuel, blend it with chemicals, and sell it in the Niger Delta, thereby endangering the health of local residents.
The youths also voice their demand for an updated and realistic timeline from NNPCL, as well as transparency on the technical and financial hurdles hindering the refinery’s operations. They call on NNPCL to actively engage with stakeholders to build trust and ensure equitable economic contributions to the Niger Delta.
In sum, the fate of the Port Harcourt refinery reveals the complex social, economic and environmental challenges facing the Niger Delta. Issues of transparency, accountability, environmental conservation and community participation cannot be ignored in the quest for sustainable and equitable development for this vital region of Nigeria.