PETROAN’s denial of lifting petrol from Port Harcourt refinery contradicts earlier claims, fuelling public confusion and questions on NNPC operations

PETROAN refinery petrol denial has ignited a fresh wave of confusion among Nigerians, as the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria retracts its earlier claim about lifting Premium Motor Spirit from the Port Harcourt refinery.

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This contradiction throws doubt over the true operational status of the recently refurbished government-owned facility.

Back in February, the association’s spokesman, Joseph Obele, issued a detailed statement claiming that PETROAN members were loading all major petroleum products—including petrol, diesel, and kerosene—from the Port Harcourt refinery.

He insisted that both Port Harcourt and Warri refineries had become fully operational and were now feeding the market directly. The statement was widely circulated and intended to counter growing scepticism about the state of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.

However, four months later, PETROAN’s National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, appeared on national television to declare that the association had never lifted petrol from the Port Harcourt facility.

According to him, members only received diesel and kerosene. While he acknowledged that Premium Motor Spirit was being moved by NNPC to its own trucks and stations, he claimed PETROAN members never purchased commercial petrol from the refinery.

This direct contradiction has led to widespread public criticism, especially given that Gillis-Harry’s remarks were clearly at odds with Obele’s earlier statement, which boldly asserted the opposite.

The association had gone as far as crediting the refineries for helping eradicate fake fuel products in the market, thanks to the availability of refined petrol from Port Harcourt.

In his televised defence, the PETROAN President clarified that although members bought petrol, it was only from NNPC stations and not directly from the refinery’s distribution channel.

He insisted that no commercial PMS was lifted during the period, further stressing that any petrol accessed came through private depots linked to NNPC.

This reversal has cast doubt not just on the credibility of PETROAN but also on the narrative surrounding the functionality of Nigeria’s refineries.

The Port Harcourt plant, reportedly refurbished at a cost of \$1.5 billion, resumed operations in late 2024 but was temporarily shut down again in May 2025 for maintenance. Government officials had touted the refinery as a game-changer for local production and price stability.

In April, a report by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority revealed that the Warri refinery remained shut due to a safety problem in its Crude Distillation Unit.

It also indicated that the Port Harcourt refinery was running at just 42 per cent of its capacity, further adding to the uncertainty.

There is growing speculation that the association’s change in tone may be linked to internal shifts within NNPC following the removal of Mele Kyari as Group Chief Executive Officer.

PETROAN, once considered a staunch supporter of the corporation, now appears to be retreating from that alignment.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with high fuel prices, inconsistent supply, and a stalled refining sector, the latest twist in the PETROAN refinery petrol denial saga underscores the urgent need for transparency.

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Industry stakeholders and citizens alike are calling for the Federal Government to consider privatising the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna to ensure efficiency, accountability and long-term stability in the downstream petroleum sector.