The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of incompetence following the shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refinery, despite a $1.5 billion rehabilitation effort.

NNPCL announced the shutdown on Saturday, attributing it to planned maintenance and a sustainability assessment set for May 24, 2025. However, the company did not specify when operations would resume.

Reacting to the announcement, PETROAN National President Billy Gillis-Harry told DAILY POST, “The shutdown of the state-owned refinery showed that the managers of Port Harcourt Refinery are incompetent and insincere all along.”

The closure raises concerns about the refinery’s capacity, especially after it was resuscitated in November 2024.

Just days ago, PETROAN had raised alarms over delays in rehabilitating the Port Harcourt Refinery along with the Warri and Kaduna refineries.Gillis-Harry added, “This situation exposes the level of insincerity on the part of NNPCL management.”

The ongoing shutdown deepens uncertainty over Nigeria’s refining capabilities amid efforts to revive its oil sector.