Atiku Abubakar Criticizes NNPC’s Decision to Hand Over Port Harcourt Refinery to Private Firm

Former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has voiced his disapproval of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)’s recent decision to hand over the Port Harcourt refinery to a private firm for operation and maintenance.

Atiku expressed his belief that selling the refinery before its rehabilitation would have been a better financial decision for the country.

Atiku emphasized that he has consistently advocated for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s oil sector and other parts of the economy.

He highlighted that his proposals, outlined in “The Atiku Plan (2018)” and “My Covenant With Nigerians (2022),” have been ignored by the current administration.

The former Vice President criticized the government’s approach to the refineries, stating that they were left idle for years while substantial staff salaries were being paid.

He also pointed out that despite the government’s decision to contract a $1.5 billion loan for the rehabilitation of the refinery, it is now being handed over to private operators for management.

Atiku called on the NNPCL to provide a detailed explanation of the benefits that this new privatization approach would bring to Nigeria and its citizens.

He urged transparency in the process to ensure that the interests of the country are safeguarded.

In his statement posted on X, Atiku reiterated his commitment to advocating for reforms that would attract both foreign and domestic investors to play a more significant role in funding and managing Nigeria’s infrastructure, including its refineries.