PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has assured that Nigeria’s refineries will be revived after a comprehensive structural and operational reset, stressing that the facilities must be made profitable and capable of delivering value to the country.
News Point Nigeria reports that the President gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja when he received the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), led by its National President, Salimon Akanni Oladiti, at the State House.
Tinubu said the Federal Government would adopt an evidence-based approach to addressing the challenges confronting the nation’s refineries, including detailed research, technical assessments, restructuring and improved management.
“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,” the President said.
Tinubu said his administration had taken responsibility for addressing the challenges inherited from previous governments, regardless of how long the problems had persisted.
“I’m not a man who goes looking back on everything because I’ve accepted the assets and liabilities of my predecessor. No matter what has happened in the years past, it’s now my responsibility as president to fix it and make it work for the greatest common good of our population. I take responsibility for that, and we will do it,” he said.
Nigeria has four main state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt (Rivers State), Warri (Delta State), and Kaduna (Kaduna State), with a combined installed capacity of about 445,000 barrels per day.
For decades, the facilities underperformed due to poor maintenance, inefficiency, and pipeline vandalism. After long periods of inactivity, rehabilitation efforts in late 2024 and early 2025 led to the restart of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, though only at partial capacity.
In contrast, the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, commissioned in May 2023, has raised hopes of reducing fuel imports and boosting local refining.
The President also appealed to Nigerians and stakeholders to remain committed to the democratic process, promising that the country would ultimately emerge stronger.
“I will just appeal to all of you to let us work diligently and passionately on this democracy. Democracy is about celebration of freedom and opportunity that must be cherished by all of us, just like a painful childbirth, but the joy is everlasting and long. And I promise you, you will enjoy a better Nigeria,” Tinubu said.
On local government autonomy, the President said the constitutional issues surrounding its implementation were being reviewed, with a view to possible adjustments, and appealed to stakeholders for understanding.
Tinubu also recalled his relationship with the late former NUPENG president, Frank Kokori, whom he credited with contributing to Nigeria’s democratic struggle
The President further promised greater inclusion for NUPENG in the implementation of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, while challenging the union to ensure that the benefits of the programme reach commuters.
In his remarks, NUPENG President Oladiti commended Tinubu for removing the fuel subsidy, describing the decision as a courageous step that had saved the country from decades of financial drain and depletion of its reserves.
He said the policy had freed resources for critical infrastructure and other sectors of the economy.
The NUPENG president, however, urged the Federal Government to sustain efforts to revive the nation’s refineries, noting that functional facilities would strengthen Nigeria’s energy security, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and create more opportunities for Nigerian workers.
The union later decorated President Tinubu as its Grand Patron.