Petroleum marketers in Rivers State have criticised the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, for failing to visit the Port Harcourt refinery during his recent trip to the state.
Ojulari was in Bonny last week to tour the Nigeria LNG facility but bypassed the refinery, a decision that retailers under the Host Communities Bulk Retailers Association described as a “snub” and a “slap in the face” to workers and contractors striving to revive the plant.
According to the group, the Port Harcourt refinery remains central to Nigeria’s refining capacity and should receive the same level of attention as the NLNG facility. They argued that a courtesy visit by the NNPCL boss would have boosted morale, reassured workers of management’s commitment, and shown support for the rehabilitation team.
The marketers warned that Ojulari’s action raises concerns about NNPCL’s priorities, especially at a time when the refinery has been shut down for over 80 days—well beyond the scheduled 30-day maintenance period announced in May. They added that the prolonged closure has cost jobs, disrupted fuel supply, and slowed economic activity in host communities.
Echoing the concern, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria’s Eastern Zone Secretary, Emmanuel Inimgba, accused the company of handling the refinery’s rehabilitation “unprofessionally.” He claimed contractors had left the site due to funding shortages and said Ojulari had not visited the facility in months.
Inimgba insisted that if the NNPCL chief fails to demonstrate commitment to reviving the refinery, stakeholders would be left with no choice but to urge President Bola Tinubu to replace him.
The company has yet to comment on the criticism. Since the resignation of its spokesperson Olufemi Soneye in June, NNPCL has not appointed a replacement, leaving media enquiries unanswered.
Despite the mounting frustration, NNPCL recently assured that the Port Harcourt refinery is not for sale, pledging to complete what it described as a “high-grade rehabilitation.” However, fresh concerns are surfacing after reports emerged that some workers at the Warri refinery have gone months without pay.
