THE MANY LIES OF THE BUHARI AND THE APC
– There is an adage that says “a lie repeated several times seems to be
true.” This is exactly the case of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as regards to the Nigerian
refineries. Many Nigerians, maybe out of ignorance believe the lie that Buhari built our 4
refineries. This can be regarded as the ‘lie of the century.’ If you are one of those that
believed this repeatedly told lies, this special and well investigated report by NewsDay
Reporters will cure you of ignorance.
For the records, Nigeria has four refineries namely Port Harcourt, Alesa-Eleme (PH 1),
Warri, Kaduna and PH 11 refineries.
In 1960, Shell and the then British Petroleum (BP) now African Petroleum (AP) came
together in a mutual joint venture that gave birth to Nigerian Petroleum Refining
Company (NPRC). This process led to the construction of the now popular Alesa-Eleme
(PH 1) in the outskirts of Port Harcourt with a capacity of 38,000b/d. The construction
started in 1963 and was completed in 1965 (in this period, where was Buhari? he just
joined the army in 1962). As the demand for local consumption increased rapidly, the
refinery’s capacity was raised to 60,000b/d after the FG acquired 60% equity in 1970 and
the remaining 40% in 1978 through the 1977 decree 77.
The administration of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, in order to enhance the performances of
the oil sector, promulgated Decree 77 of 1978 establishing the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The NNPC initially had five bodies, each with a
managing director. They were all supervised by a group general manager. The number
of subsidiaries rose to nine and later 11.
Following the indigenization policy of the Federal Military Government under the
Obasanjo’s regime, the name NPRC was changed to NNPC and its equity totally bought
over by the Federal Government in 1978. Therefore, the NPRC constructed the first
refinery in Nigeria generally known as Port Harcourt 1 in 1965 while the NNPC built the
Port Harcourt 11, Warri and Kaduna refineries.
However, the Warri Refinery was awarded by Yakubu Gowon to Snamprogetti Spa Milan,
Italy in 1975 (in this period, Buhari was the governor of North-eastern state) at the cost
of $478 million and commenced operation in 1978 (now he was a Petroleum. Minister).
It had the design capacity of 100,000 b/d.
The Kaduna Refinery was awarded by Murtala Mohammed in 1976 and was built by
Chiyoda Engineering and Construction Company - a Japanese firm, at the cost of $525
million and was completed by Obasanjo in 1979 (Buhari's tenure as the Petroleum.
Minister ended in 1978). It had two refining streams (50,000 b/d fuels units) and (50,000
b/d lubes, waxes Asphalt plants).
Port Harcourt 11 was awarded by Gen IBB in 1985 with an installed capacity of 150,000
b/d and completed in 1989. Meanwhile in 1985, IBB undertook an expansion of the
capacities of the fuels units in both Warri and Kaduna refineries to 125,000b/d and
110,000b/d respectively. He therefore added 185,000b/d capacity to the total 445,000b/d
as at 1989. No further addition has been added till date.
So, when did Buhari build the four refineries?
Lets I forget, Buhari has no legacy as a former Head of State despite ruling the country
with an iron-fist.

I beg, make you people just let General Buhari retire in peace!!!