Tinubu Promises to Revive Nigeria’s Refineries, Says Facilities Must Become Profitable

President Bola Tinubu has pledged to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries, saying his administration will not allow the facilities to waste away after decades of investment.

Tinubu made the commitment on Thursday when he received the national executive members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) at the State House in Abuja.

According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu said the government would undertake comprehensive research, restructuring and leadership reforms to reposition the refineries for efficiency and profitability.

Responding to NUPENG’s call for the revival of the nation’s refineries, the President said the challenges confronting the facilities would be addressed through a systematic and evidence-based approach rather than temporary interventions.

He said detailed research and technical assessments would be conducted to identify the structural, operational, financial and managerial problems affecting the refineries and develop sustainable solutions.

“The refineries that you mentioned are going to come back to work; we’re just building a very firm, resetting, and structural reworking of the economy of it. Ordinary flame and smoke of a refinery doesn’t mean that it’s working until it’s profitable and yields the value for which it is built,” Tinubu said.

The President said he had accepted responsibility for the assets and liabilities inherited from previous administrations and would work to ensure that the facilities serve the interests of Nigerians.

He also appealed to stakeholders to support the democratic process, promising that Nigerians would ultimately enjoy a better country.

On local government autonomy, Tinubu said the constitutional issues surrounding its implementation were being reviewed for possible adjustments, while appealing to stakeholders for understanding.

The President also paid tribute to the late former NUPENG President, Frank Kokori, acknowledging his contribution to the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.

“You brought good memories of my relationship with Frank Kokori; may his soul rest in peace. We struggled for this democratic dispensation together, and it was very tough for us to have this democracy,” he said.

Tinubu further promised greater involvement of NUPENG in the implementation of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), while challenging the union to ensure that the benefits of the programme reach ordinary commuters.

Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended NUPENG for recognising what he described as the positive impact of the Tinubu administration’s reforms.

Idris said the acknowledgement by the union had helped reduce tension between the government and organised labour, particularly following major policy decisions such as the removal of fuel subsidy and the increase in workers’ wages.

He also highlighted the administration’s infrastructure projects, saying NUPENG’s recognition of the ongoing reforms was significant given the union’s influence in the petroleum sector.

The NUPENG President, Comrade Oladiti, commended Tinubu for removing the fuel subsidy, describing the decision as a bold move that had saved the country from decades of financial drain and depletion of national reserves.

He said the resources freed by the policy were being channelled into infrastructure and other critical sectors of the economy.

Oladiti particularly praised the rehabilitation and construction of major federal highways, including the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.

He said improved roads would help reduce accidents, fuel spillages and loss of lives involving tanker drivers and other road users.

However, the NUPENG leader urged the President to sustain efforts to revive the country’s refineries, stressing that functional refineries would strengthen Nigeria’s energy security, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and create more employment opportunities for Nigerians.