The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the sacked managing directors of Nigeria’s three state-owned refineries over the alleged mismanagement of $2.9 billion meant for refinery rehabilitation, with N80 billion reportedly discovered in the personal bank accounts of one of the ex-MDs.
The arrests, confirmed by senior EFCC officials, target former heads of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC).A senior EFCC official said, “We are investigating the money that was released for the rehabilitation of all three refineries—money disbursed in recent times.
All the principal officers within that time frame are being invited.”The investigation covers $1.55 billion allocated to the PHRC, $740.6 million to KRPC, and $656.9 million to WRPC.
Former PHRC boss Ibrahim Onoja and ex-WRPC MD Efifia Chu are among those in EFCC custody.Saturday PUNCH learned that top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), including its immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, are also under probe.
An EFCC letter dated April 28, 2025, requested financial records of Kyari and 13 other former NNPCL executives.“About N80bn has so far been discovered in his various accounts. The way things are going, it may be bigger than Emefielegate,” a top NNPCL source told PUNCH.
Despite claims that the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries resumed operations in late 2024, both facilities have struggled, with the Warri plant shutting down again within weeks due to safety concerns.
The Port Harcourt refinery has reportedly not exceeded 42% production capacity.Energy expert Kelvin Emmanuel called the much-publicized recommissioning a “charade.” He said, “What Nigerians saw on television as the commissioning was just a charade… The refineries don’t have a catalytic reform unit that can convert Naphtha to PMS.”
Adding to the turmoil, refinery support staff are threatening a strike starting May 5 over poor pay and casual employment. “Workers were promised an improved salary structure upon the refinery’s restart, but that promise has not been fulfilled,” said union leader Dafe Ighomitedo.
IPMAN and PETROAN have both expressed frustration over the refineries’ failure to supply petrol months after their “relaunch.”Dan Kunle, another energy analyst, called the situation a “scandal,” questioning the rationale behind abandoning original refinery contractors. “Kaduna refinery has no pipe to feed it… All these three refineries, we are wasting money rehabilitating them,” he said.
