By Milcah Tanimu
A coalition of 145 civil society organizations has backed human rights lawyer Femi Falana’s demand for transparency on the $2.9 billion allocated to rehabilitate Nigeria’s refineries. The NNPCL received this funding for the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries. However, Warri and Kaduna remain non-operational, while Port Harcourt has only partially resumed, blending 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily instead of its full 150,000-barrel capacity.
Falana confronted the NNPCL about the lack of clarity surrounding the funds and the underperformance of the refineries. The coalition now calls on NNPCL’s CEO, Mele Kyari, to address these concerns and explain how the $2.9 billion was spent. They also seek answers about the failure of the Warri and Kaduna refineries to reopen and the continued underuse of Port Harcourt’s facilities.
If Kyari and his team do not respond, the coalition warns they will protest in major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Warri. The groups stressed the importance of accountability and the need for the refineries to meet their promised operational standards.
