A Niger Delta advocacy group has called on Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies to investigate the $1.5 billion allocated for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), questioning the expenditure amid lingering concerns over the refinery’s operational status.
The group expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the multi-billion-dollar rehabilitation project, arguing that despite the enormous public investment, the refinery has yet to deliver meaningful refining capacity capable of meeting domestic fuel demands.
In a statement issued on Monday, the group urged agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a comprehensive investigation into how the rehabilitation funds were disbursed and utilized.
According to the group, Nigerians deserve transparency and accountability regarding the project, particularly as the country continues to rely heavily on imported refined petroleum products despite repeated assurances that the refinery would resume full operations.
“The Nigerian people have a right to know how the $1.5 billion was spent. If such a huge investment has not translated into a fully functional refinery, then those responsible must account for every kobo,” the group said.
The organisation argued that the continued underperformance of the Port Harcourt refinery raises serious questions about project implementation, contract execution, and oversight by relevant government agencies.
It added that an independent forensic audit would help determine whether the rehabilitation funds were appropriately managed and whether any acts of financial misconduct occurred during the execution of the project.
The call comes against the backdrop of longstanding public scrutiny surrounding Nigeria’s state-owned refineries, which have consumed billions of dollars in maintenance and rehabilitation costs over several decades while remaining largely inactive.
The Federal Government had approved the $1.5 billion rehabilitation project for the Port Harcourt refinery in 2021, with authorities maintaining that the work would restore the facility to optimal production in phases.
In late 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) announced the commencement of operations at the old 60,000-barrels-per-day plant following rehabilitation works. However, industry stakeholders have continued to debate the refinery’s actual production levels, with critics questioning whether it is operating at commercially significant capacity.
The Niger Delta group maintained that the uncertainty surrounding the refinery’s output has further strengthened the case for an independent investigation.
It urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to demonstrate its commitment to transparency by supporting a thorough probe into the rehabilitation project, insisting that accountability in the management of public funds is essential to rebuilding public confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The group also stressed that ensuring value for money in strategic infrastructure projects would help prevent future waste and strengthen efforts to achieve energy security and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited nor the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources had publicly responded to the group’s demand for an investigation.
