President Bola Tinubu has lauded the reopening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), calling it a significant achievement for 2024 that reinforces public confidence in his administration.
Tinubu described the revival of the 125,000-barrel-per-day Warri refinery as a “noteworthy conclusion to the year,” emphasizing his government’s dedication to restoring all four of Nigeria’s refineries to full capacity. In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled ‘President Tinubu Commends NNPCL Over the Reopening of Warri Refinery,’ Tinubu praised the efforts of NNPCL, led by Mele Kyari.
“The resumption of operations at the Warri Refinery today brings joy and renewed hope to Nigerians. This milestone strengthens the belief in the brighter future we promised. Following the earlier success with the old Port Harcourt Refinery, this achievement marks a remarkable way to close the year. I am delighted that NNPCL is actively pursuing my directive to bring all four refineries back to full functionality,” Tinubu stated.
He commended Mele Kyari and his team for their dedication to restoring the nation’s oil refining capacity and repositioning Nigeria as a leading crude oil refining hub in Africa. The Warri Refinery’s restart follows the recent resumption of operations at the 60,000-barrel-per-day old Port Harcourt Refinery.
The statement noted that the overhaul of Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries began under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Tinubu expressed optimism that, with the Warri Refinery now operating at 60% capacity, his administration is on track to achieve energy security and efficiency. He reaffirmed his commitment to expanding local refining capacity and establishing Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s downstream oil sector.
Highlighting future goals, Tinubu urged NNPCL to expedite repairs on the Kaduna Refinery and the second Port Harcourt Refinery, which has a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day, to solidify Nigeria’s status as a global energy leader. The Warri Refinery, now operational after years of dormancy, will focus on producing and storing key products, including Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and both heavy and light Naphtha.
