The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has called on the Federal Government to revive the country’s three government-owned refineries, saying Nigeria cannot rely on a single refinery to achieve energy security and affordable fuel prices.

PETROAN National President, Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, made the call on Thursday while reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day address.

Gillis-Harry said operating multiple refineries would strengthen the country’s energy security, create jobs and improve the availability of petroleum products.

He said the government’s plan to use natural gas to drive industrial development would be difficult to achieve without restoring the public refineries.

According to him, returning the three government-owned refineries to full operation and ensuring they remain commercially viable would allow more Nigerians to benefit from the ongoing reforms in the petroleum sector.

Gillis-Harry also said having several refineries operated by both government and private investors would increase competition in the downstream sector.

He explained that greater competition could encourage refineries to improve efficiency and increase the supply of products such as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), potentially putting downward pressure on pump prices.

The PETROAN president further said the prolonged shutdown of the government-owned refineries had affected jobs and businesses in communities linked to the facilities.

He noted that petroleum retailers, tanker drivers, contractors, suppliers and other businesses around the refinery locations had suffered income losses as a result.

Gillis-Harry therefore urged the Federal Government to set a clear timeline for restoring the refineries to full operation, particularly ahead of the January election period.