House of Representatives refinery probe targets $18bn spent on failed rehab of Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries since 2010

House of Representatives refinery probe has been launched to investigate the staggering $18 billion spent on Nigeria’s state-owned refineries with little to no operational results to show over two decades.

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The motion, brought forward by Lagos lawmaker Oluwaseun Whingan during Thursday’s plenary session, was unanimously adopted by the House. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu presided over the proceedings.

The investigation will focus on the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, all of which remain non-functional despite receiving consistent public funding for rehabilitation since at least 2010.

Whingan, who represents Badagry Federal Constituency, expressed deep concern that despite these significant investments, there has been no verifiable evidence of improvement in refinery operations.

The refineries, under the control of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), continue to suffer from mismanagement, vandalism, and administrative decay.

“The House is alarmed,” Whingan said, “that even with an estimated $18 billion reportedly spent on turnaround maintenance, the refineries remain idle — forcing the nation to rely almost entirely on imported petroleum products.”

Public outrage has intensified following recent remarks by industrialist Aliko Dangote and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, both casting doubt on the viability of the refineries.

Their statements, according to Whingan, reflect widespread frustration over the failure of the facilities to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s energy sector.

The lawmaker also recalled the 2007 privatisation of the refineries under Obasanjo’s administration, which was later reversed by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

That decision, he argued, led to repeated cycles of public-funded rehabilitation efforts that have delivered no sustainable results.

On July 10, 2025, NNPCL’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, in an interview with The PUNCH, hinted at the possible sale of the non-functional assets — a suggestion that has raised eyebrows and sparked renewed scrutiny of how public funds have been handled.

The House of Representatives refinery probe will be carried out by its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream, Downstream and Midstream), Gas Resources, and Public Assets.

They are tasked with examining all funds allocated and disbursed between 2010 and 2024, identifying responsible agencies, and determining the current operational state of the refineries.

Lawmakers argue that with Nigeria’s recent removal of petrol subsidy, the need for fully functional refineries has become urgent.

A failure to produce refined petroleum locally exacerbates inflation, undermines energy security, and continues to strain national finances.

Also read: House of Representatives Slams PENGASSAN over Strike

The House has given the joint committees four weeks to submit a detailed report with findings, identify mismanagement or corruption, and recommend reforms to protect future public investments.