Analyst Urges Lawmaker to Let NNPCL Fix Refineries, End Political Standoff
Public affairs analyst Mustapha Mohammed urged Ikenga Ugochinyere, Chairman of the House Committee on Downstream Petroleum, to allow the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to proceed with rehabilitating the Port Harcourt and other state-owned refineries. Mohammed made the call in a statement on Sunday, August 30, 2026, responding to Ugochinyere's threat to use parliamentary powers to demand details from NNPCL's CEO Bashir Bayo Ojulari and executives.
Mohammed argued that accusing NNPCL of withholding information is a "backend tactic" by the same actors using cheap gimmicks to suggest the government is inactive. He stressed that the refinery rehabilitation programme should be judged by its progress and outcomes, not political rhetoric, and noted that NNPCL is executing a deliberate Federal Government policy with no legislative breach.
The analyst warned that continued politicisation could delay efforts to revive domestic refining capacity, which directly affects fuel availability and prices nationwide. He urged stakeholders to let the process work and evaluate results rather than fuel controversy.
Will you support allowing NNPCL to complete the refinery repairs without political obstruction, or do you believe stronger parliamentary oversight is necessary to ensure transparency?