By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has rejected a recent invitation extended to him by the state-owned oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), to tour the recently rehabilitated Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, describing it as “disrespectful” to his person and office as a former leader.
The media was awash with reports of Obasanjo’s invitation, but he denied receiving a formal letter from the oil firm as of Thursday, 2 January 2024.
“Is that the right way to invite a former president of the country? Who says Baba has even seen the statement or read the news? It is a total disrespect for the office of the former president.
“Ask the NNPCL, as of 2 January, have they written to him? Is there any official letter addressed to him, inviting him to the refinery? It is an absolute insult, and the former president cannot dignify such with a response,” Obasanjo queried through his media aide, Kehinde Akinremi.
The 87-year-old former military ruler, who also served as civilian president from 1999 to 2007 in the oil-rich West African nation, expressed frustration over the mismanagement of refineries. Despite significant expenditure on turnaround maintenance since 2007, no results have been achieved.
In a recent interview, Obasanjo recounted failed efforts to privatise oil plants in the country. He revealed that NNPCL had misled his successor, Musa Yar’Adua, into rejecting a $750 million offer from Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.
“When I was president, I wanted to do something about the three refineries we have: Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna. Aliko got a team together after I asked Shell to come and run it for us. And Shell said they wouldn’t. I said, ‘Please come and take equity.’ They said no. I said, ‘Okay, don’t take equity, come and run it.’ They said no.
“Aliko got a team together, and they paid $750 million to take part in a PPP (Public–Private Partnership) to run the refineries. My successor refunded their money. I went to my successor, told him what transpired, and he said NNPC (as it was then known) said they wanted the refinery and could run it. I said, ‘But you know they cannot run it,’” he explained.
He added: “But I was told not too long ago that since that time, more than $2 billion had been squandered on the refineries, and they still would not work.”
Obasanjo emphasised that if a company like Shell declined the offer to manage the refineries based on their assessment, he believed their decision. He also expressed confidence in Dangote’s ability to manage his privately owned refinery more effectively than the government could manage the rehabilitated ones.
During a tour of the Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) on Monday, NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari announced that the 125,000 barrels-per-day facility in Warri is now operational.
“This plant has three stages. We have started stage one, called Area 1, which is able to produce AGO (diesel), kerosene, naphtha, and others. These are brands of high-quality products required in the country. We will also be able to export them. This country will make money to fulfil the promises of Mr President that Nigeria will become an exporter of petroleum products,” Kyari stated during the tour.
