PH Refinery: Tinubu has put Nigeria on transformative path — Okupe

A former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign, Dr Doyin Okupe, says President Bola Tinubu’s revitalisation of the Port Harcourt refinery has set Nigeria on transformative path.

Okupe, a former spokesman for President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

“It is with immense pride and hearty congratulations that I commend the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the tireless efforts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) under the stewardship of its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari.

“The recent success of bringing the long-moribund Port Harcourt Refinery back on stream is a monumental achievement that marks a turning point in Nigeria’s journey toward energy independence, economic revitalisation, and national pride.

“President Tinubu’s reform agenda has, without question, set Nigeria on a transformative path.

“The revitalisation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, a critical national asset that languished for years due to neglect, mismanagement, and systemic corruption, is an attestation to the President’s unwavering resolve and steadfast commitment to the nation’s progress,” Okupe said.

He said that the popular adage, ”where there is a will, there is always a way,” resonated profoundly with the achievements of the Tinubu administration.

According to him, Tinubu has demonstrated patriotic zeal and determination to address the structural deficiencies that have long plagued Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

He said that the history of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), now rebranded as NNPCL, was replete with stories of missed opportunities and squandered resources.

Okupe said that, for decades, the organisation served as a “cash cow” for successive administrations, often used to fund private interests rather than national development.

“This culture of impunity and corruption stifled its potential, leaving critical infrastructure like the Port Harcourt Refinery in disrepair and undermining Nigeria’s economic stability,” Okupe said.

According to him, before the tenure of Mr Mele Kyari, the NNPC was synonymous with inefficiency and lack of transparency.

Okupe, however, said that under Kyari’s leadership, the organisation had undergone a remarkable transformation.

He said that by embracing internal restructuring and operational reforms, Kyari had piloted NNPCL to greatness.

Okupe said that Kyari and his team’s relentless efforts had not only restored the refinery’s operations, but had also reinvigorated Nigeria’s refining capacity.

He said the reinvigoration of the refinery had also reduced dependence on imported petroleum products and enhanced energy security.

“It is important to acknowledge the challenges that accompany such transformative progress.

“Elements of the opposition and economic saboteurs have sought to undermine these achievements through misinformation and negative propaganda.

“The successes of the Tinubu administration and the NNPCL leadership are emblematic of a renewed hope for Nigeria,” Okupe said.

It was reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. had on Nov. 27 announced the resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery, following comprehensive rehabilitation.

With an initial processing capacity of 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the project is expected to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products and strengthen local refining capabilities.