PETROAN Calls for Sale of Port Harcourt, Warri, Kaduna Refineries, Sets Q1 2026 Deadline for Privatization
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has renewed calls on the Federal Government to divest from the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, citing years of unproductive public spending.
The appeal was made by the National President of PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, in a statement obtained by PulseNets, where he argued that privatization remains the most viable path to restoring functionality and efficiency in the country’s refining sector.
Gillis-Harry maintained that the refineries would only become commercially productive if transferred to private operators, rather than relying on repeated government-funded rehabilitation exercises that have failed to deliver tangible results.
He lamented that despite the expenditure of billions of naira on the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s four refineries, output has remained negligible, raising serious concerns about value for money and fiscal sustainability.
PETROAN has now escalated its advocacy, urging the Federal Government to ensure that the privatization of NNPCL’s state-owned refineries is concluded transparently by the first quarter of 2026.
Speaking further, Gillis-Harry told PulseNets that prolonged government control has entrenched inefficiencies in the downstream petroleum sector and continues to drain public resources without commensurate returns.
“Years of sustained public funding have not translated into optimal performance from the refineries,” he said. “Private sector-driven management has become inevitable if Nigeria is serious about achieving energy security, operational efficiency, and long-term stability in the downstream petroleum industry.”
Also Read: Port Harcourt refinery to sell PMS at N1,030 — PETROAN Confirms
PulseNets learnt that the call comes amid renewed national debate over the future of the state-owned refineries, especially as fuel supply challenges and subsidy concerns persist.
Meanwhile, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, had earlier indicated that privatization remains a viable option following a recent review of the refineries’ operational status. Ojulari reportedly noted that selling off the assets has not been ruled out, signaling a possible policy shift in the management of Nigeria’s refining infrastructure.
