₦airaland Forum

BY BUNMI ADULOJU


The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) is experiencing sabotage and acts of vandalism, hampering efforts to commence production, TheCable understands.

Speaking to TheCable on Wednesday, sources in the know said there have been organised acts of vandalism at the plant.

Vandals were said to be caught cutting cables and stealing equipment from the refinery.

According to an insider, presently, there is also an ongoing blockade at the entrance of the refinery preventing work from commencing.

“Hundreds of people are currently gathered at the PHRC entrance, preventing workers from doing their jobs and vowing that the refinery restart will not proceed,” the source said.

On December 21, 2023, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited announced the completion of the mechanical rehabilitation on a section of the Port Harcourt refinery.

Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC, had said the refinery would begin production by the end of March, but this has not happened.

TheCable had reported on July 9 that the presidency expressed concerns over the NNPC’s failure to deliver critical projects including the Port Harcourt refinery.

But Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), said such projects often take time, adding that the refinery is at its final rehabilitation stage.

On July 15, the national oil company said the Port Harcourt refinery would begin operations in early August.

Throwback:
It is laughable.

You have idle soldiers in the barracks, and you have police suffering from accidental discharge of their weapons, yet you are complaining that vandals and saboteurs are destroying a national asset.

Are the vandals spirits and are they immune to a bullet in the head?

It is long overdue for Mele Kyari to be fired.

dre11:
■ According to an insider, presently, there is also an ongoing blockade at the entrance of the refinery preventing work from commencing. “Hundreds of people are currently gathered at the PHRC entrance, preventing workers from doing their jobs and vowing that the refinery restart will not proceed,” the source said.
■ On December 21, 2023, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited announced the completion of the mechanical rehabilitation on a section of the Port Harcourt refinery. Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC, had said the refinery would begin production by the end of March, but this has not happened.
TheCable had reported on July 9 that the presidency expressed concerns over the NNPC’s failure to deliver critical projects including the Port Harcourt refinery. But Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), said such projects often take time, adding that the refinery is at its final rehabilitation stage.
On July 15, the national oil company said the Port Harcourt refinery would begin operations in early August.

Unperturbedpota:


Your comment is as laughable as it is poorly thought out. Blaming idle soldiers and police for the actions of vandals and saboteurs shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how security and governance work. Let's break down your flawed reasoning and point out the real issues.

Firstly, expecting soldiers and police to shoot vandals on sight reveals a dangerous and inhumane mindset. Do you really think summary executions are the solution? What you’re suggesting is anarchy, not law and order. Enforcing laws requires more than just brute force; it requires intelligence, strategy, and respect for human rights.

Secondly, firing Mele Kyari for issues that are systemic and deeply rooted in corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor governance is a simplistic and naive solution. Leadership changes are necessary, but they need to be part of a broader strategy that addresses the root causes of these problems.

Your suggestion that soldiers and police should act as executioners is not only illegal but also counterproductive. It would lead to more chaos, human rights violations, and international condemnation. The real solution involves comprehensive reforms in security, better coordination between agencies, and robust community engagement to tackle the root causes of vandalism and sabotage.

Blaming one person or suggesting extrajudicial killings doesn't address the complexity of the situation. It's time to move beyond simplistic and violent solutions and start thinking about sustainable, lawful, and humane ways to protect national assets and ensure security.

If you truly want to see change, advocate for systemic reforms, accountability at all levels of government, and better training and resources for security personnel. Your current approach is not only misguided but dangerous, and it's certainly not the way to build a stable and prosperous nation.

EreluRoz:
Those people are one of the major problems of Nigeria

jchioma:
This is why I laugh when I hear Tinubu giving order to stop oil theft etc. Is it not the same people entrusted with the protection that will sabotage it? Nigeria cannot change. The people in power were the criminals of yesterday.

LegendHero:
This one look like lamba.

I also saw the video of youths blocking off the road to the refinery while drinking beer. But I think it might all be a setup coz why now.

If truly any youth is doing it alone, deploy the police/military to teach them a bitter lesson for the act of national sabotage.