There’s Nothing Wrong With Our Refineries, It Is The Govt. That Is Not Ready To Make Them Work – Ex-NNPC GM 

Oil theft in Nigeria has been a major canckerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the country’s source of revenue and the more the government tries to deal with the situation, the worse it becomes.

This was the subject of discussion during the Arise News Morning Show on Monday as several areas of Oil theft were looked into with a view to suggesting a lasting solution to the federal government.

However, the revelation from the special guest, Babajide Soyode, former General Manager, Corporate and Business Development of NNPC appears to have opened up a can of worms in the oil sector.

Asked why the Nigerian government has refused to build Refineries as promised so as to curtail the crude oil theft and also reduce the cost of refining our oil outside the country,  Babajide Soyode revealed that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the existing refineries in Nigeria.

Recalled that Nigeria currently has four refineries across the country. There is one in Kaduna, two in Port Harcourt and the other one in Warri. All of them have been moribund for many years with millions of naira being pumped into the sector on every fiscal year.

According to the former GM of Warri and Kaduna Refineries, all the refineries can actually work if the government wants them to work. He said the only thing that needs to be done is to upgrade them. He explained that those refineries are still new and can work perfectly if the government is serious about making it work.

He revealed that American Refineries were built in 1950s and yet they are still working till now. Nigeria’s refineries were built in 1970s and 80s. They are still relatively new. 

He also disclosed that Warri refinery was built at the rate of 350 million naira while Kaduna refinery was built at 347 million naira in those days. The only thing that need to be done is to upgrade and update them. But is government ready for that?

He told the TV station to quote him anywhere that Nigeria’s government is the one behind the refineries not working. If they want them to work, they will work.

Babajide Soyode explained this on the Monday edition of Arise TV Morning Show.