The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has publicly called on NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Bashir Bayo Ojulari to urgently revive and enhance the capacity of Nigeria’s local refineries, citing the move as critical for energy security, job creation, and economic growth.
NANS President Olushola Oladoja lauded Ojulari’s appointment as merit-based and timely, praising his integrity and extensive oil-and-gas experience. In an official statement, he urged the NNPC to prioritize completing the rehabilitation of the nation’s dormant refineries to reduce dependence on fuel imports—thus saving foreign exchange, creating employment and ensuring fuel affordability at the grassroots level .
Nigeria currently possesses four major state-owned refineries—Warri (125,000 bpd), Port Harcourt (210,000 bpd), and the now less-active Kaduna facility. Despite a combined capacity of 445,000 bpd, actual output has remained consistently low due to deferred maintenance and operational inefficiencies .
However, recent developments offer renewed hope. The Port Harcourt refinery has resumed operations at approximately 70% capacity, delivering as much as 1.4 million liters of petrol daily, alongside diesel and kerosene . Combined with the 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery—the largest single-train refinery in the world—Nigeria’s refining capacity now stands near 860,000 bpd .
Still, these gains are undermined by systemic bottlenecks like inconsistent crude supply and operational lapses in modular refining facilities .
NNPC’s new leadership under Ojulari has responded positively. In recent speeches, he reaffirmed a commitment to dismantle structural barriers to create a self-sufficient refining ecosystem, pointing to equity ties with Dangote and support for third-party refinery projects as cornerstones of a successful strategy .
Yet, some stakeholders have flagged possible divestment plans for certain state-owned refineries—an option that has since been downplayed amid concerns it could erode national assets .
For Nigeria to fully realize a refinery-led revival, the following should be front and center:
Upgrade crude supply systems—ensure steady allocations to both state and private refineries.
Complete rehabilitation pipelines—move beyond partial revamps to full operational status.
Secure funding and partnerships—mobilize capital for upgrades and involve private sector resilience.
Deploy modular refineries strategically—prioritize functionality and local feedstock.
If executed strategically, boosting local refining can preserve billions in foreign currency, strengthen fuel resilience, and reframe Nigeria’s oil sector as an economic powerhouse.