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Port Harcourt Refinery: CSOs Plan Massive Protest Against Kyari over Alleged Fraudulent Maintenance Contracts


Coalition of over twenty advocacy groups under umbrella of Civil Society Coalition for Energy Transparency and Development in Nigeria (CSCEDN) have concluded arrangements to mobilise its to headquarters of National Nigerian Petroleum Company Limited ,Abuja next week for a Two-day massive protest against the former Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Engineer Mele Kyari over recent shutdown of Port Harcourt Refinery.

According to the group, the protests scheduled to hold on Monday and Tuesday is to demand for arrest and protection of the former NNPCL boss for what it described as "fraudulent overhaul maintenance" carried out on Port Harcourt Refinery under his management that hitherto led to recent shutdown for another round of maintenance.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recently announced the shutdown of Unit 10 in Area 5 of the Port Harcourt Refinery (PHRC), officially citing sustainability concerns for scheduled maintenance.
The Civil Society groups in a Press Statement made available to journalists in Kaduna, which expressed dismay over the shutdown of the facility, said it is a clear evidence that Kyari didn't do anything to ensure sustainable operations. the maintenance work was just a fraud.

The statement tly signed by Comrade Musa Ibrahim Gusau and Comrade Henry Rewane stated, "Most annoying is that the shutdown is coming six months after the refinery commenced truck loading of petroleum products following the $1.5 billion spent on rehabilitation.

The group said , " The information gathered so far revealed that the shutdown was triggered by a combination of inconsistent product quality, poor maintenance cycles, and frankly an underwhelming performance .

The statement further reads: "During the planned protest, We will urge the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to arrest and prosecute Kyari immediately as well as review all agreements entered into by the NNPCL during his istration .

"We are particularly angry and asking questions on behalf of Nigerians that why is it that after the initial overhaul maintenance gulped over $1.5 billion, the company shut down operations for another round of maintenance within just six months of resumption.

"The ‘old plant,’ which was commissioned in 1965, with a processing capacity of 60,000 barrels per day appeared to have become a conduit pipe for siphoning our money.

" After years of inactivity and failed multiple rehabilitation efforts, the refinery resumed operations on November 26, 2024, following a significant overhaul that cost $1.5 billion for the entire complex.

"We are going to ensure that the controversies surrounding the rehabilitation and recommissioning of the refineries by Kyari led management and billions of dollars spent without transparency are unraveled and made public."