The number of illegal refineries continually being destroyed by Nigerian military in the Niger Delta is a testimony that Nigeria can refine crude oil in the most inexpensive way and save citizens the unending torture of fuel shortage and the crisis associated with it.
It is a known fact that the during the civil war, Biafra refined its own oil, built its own ammo, and literally supported itself via local ingenuity; in the heat of a war!
As Nigerians groan under the present biting fuel crisis, with the NNPC keeping sealed lips over their promised conclusion of the turnaround maintenance at Port Harcourt refinery,, Prof. Joy N. Ezeilo (SAN), former Dean Faculty of Law, UNN and former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking maintains that “this lack of accountability in the public sector is not just frustrating, it’s deeply disappointing.”
Ezeilo on her X handle had this to say:
“Persistent fuel scarcity and arbitrary petroleum price hikes continue, while the NNPC remains tight-lipped about the root causes. Unfulfilled promises about local refineries and questions about accountability from public officials who have not delivered on their responsibilities also remain.
“I tweeted on 15th March, ‘ Re: The breaking news that the Port Harcourt Refinery will start production in two weeks, i.e. by 28th March 2024. If I were Mele Kyari, chief executive of NNPC, I would not talk about when refineries will start operations again. I will wait until they start, bring in the media, and show live that the refinery is now working, refining crude oil and trucks loading in Real Time. This will convince Nigerians with so much mistrust of government at all levels for good reasons- lack of good governance, continuing promises and inability to keep to promises made….’
“It’s been over a month, and the narrative has shifted to the PH refinery turnaround being 70 percent complete. This lack of accountability in the public sector is not just frustrating, it’s deeply disappointing. Those responsible for delivering such projects with efficiency and transparency seem to operate without consequences, making false promises blatantly to Nigerians. The road to redemption in Nigeria is indeed a long one, but it’s a journey we’re committed to. We refuse to give up on the hope for a more accountable public sector!”
