President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) refineries will resume operations.

Tinubu gave the assurance on Thursday during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The President said returning the refineries to operation would not be enough, stressing that their performance should ultimately be judged by profitability and the value they deliver to the Nigerian economy.

He explained that a refinery producing flames and smoke does not necessarily mean it is operating effectively if it fails to generate sustainable economic returns.

Tinubu also acknowledged the assets and liabilities inherited by his administration from previous governments, saying he had accepted responsibility for addressing the challenges surrounding them.

He pledged to ensure that the refineries are made productive and contribute meaningfully to the economy, adding that he would not retreat from the responsibility of fixing the problems he inherited.

The President’s assurance comes as Nigeria continues efforts to increase domestic refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.