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The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to explain why the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries are currently not producing petroleum products.

Lokpobiri made the disclosure during an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday.

According to the minister, a recent briefing from NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, indicated that the government-owned refineries were not currently producing refined petroleum products despite the huge sums reportedly spent on turnaround maintenance over the past two decades.

He said the expenditure on the three facilities had amounted to between N23.84 trillion and N33.11 trillion.

“The last brief I got from the GCEO [Bayo Ojulari] is that it’s very unfortunate that the Port Harcourt refinery, Warri refinery and Kaduna refinery are not producing today.

“But new partnerships are being negotiated with some Chinese companies to come and invest their money and see how they can rehabilitate.”

When asked whether individuals who allegedly gave Nigerians the impression that the refineries were operational should face sanctions, Lokpobiri directed attention to the NNPCL and called for an explanation.

“Call NNPC, tell them to come and account for it. I will tell them to come. Let them come and explain.”

The minister’s remarks came amid rising petrol prices, with motorists in Abuja and surrounding areas reportedly paying between N1,395 and N1,450 per litre, adding to the pressure on household and business costs.

The NNPCL, under its former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, had previously announced that operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery resumed on November 26, 2024.

However, the facility was reportedly shut down again on May 24, 2025.

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