₦airaland Forum

The President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, has described the controversy surrounding the petroleum product output from the newly relaunched Port Harcourt refinery as misleading.

Reacting to claims by some critics that the refinery is merely a blending plant, Gillis-Harry emphasized that blending is a standard practice in crude oil refining processes worldwide.

The Port Harcourt refinery, which resumed operations on Tuesday, has been touted as a crucial step in reducing Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports. Gillis-Harry also commended the NNPC for being very transparent with information “that there is a blending process within the ambit of the industry.”

In his words on Arise TV News Night: “I do not know any refinery in the world today that does not engage in blending. And why do you blend? You blend because of the volatility of different products. “So, for the PMS, the volatility rate is very high, and there has to be some kind of blending that will enable the volatility to be stable. Otherwise, you will buy a gasoline of N10,000, and before you know it, it has evaporated".

He also noted that the view of PETROAN on the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the Port Harcourt Refinery being N75 higher than that of Dangote Refinery was “quoted out of context.”

According to Gillis-Harry, PETROAN has not started loading products from the Port Harcourt Refinery due to the lack of approval, adding that the price comparison was based on the old template published by NNPC, which didn’t include pricing for the Port Harcourt Depot. He emphasized that the conversation was centred around verifying if the refinery had produced PMS and if loading had commenced, not about pricing.

Furthermore, he maintained that the statement from the National Public Relations Officer about the price was referring to a previous purchase on the NNPC platform, unrelated to the Port Harcourt Refinery.

“We have not started loading products from there because there is no approval yet for PETROAN or anyone to be able to access products from that depot. So, the information that was passed about N75 more than Dangote refinery was quoted out of context.

“This is because the product we bought day before yesterday (Monday) and yesterday (Tuesday) was on the old template of what the NNPC has published earlier, and there was no price for the Port Harcourt Depot pricing because there was no applications approved. There was no reason to compute what the pricing would be.

“Also, pricing was not the conversation. The conversation was to see if the refinery had produced PMS and if loading had commenced, and it was done. So, the N75 conversation was taken out of context, and I can verify that as the national president of the organization.

“The National Public Relations Officer was only discussing the price we bought a few days before on the NNPC platform, and that has nothing to do with the Port Harcourt refinery. Therefore, I would like us to discountenance that conversation.”

While speaking on the approval timeline for pricing dynamics at the Port Harcourt refinery, the PETROAN president stated that “it is completely out of context to discuss pricing from the depot at this point.” He shed some light on the processes involved, saying that to buy products from the NNPC, marketers need to be qualified, with an active license and presence on the NNPC platform.

He noted that once qualified, marketers make an application, and the NNPC automatically approves certain quantities of products for each retail outlet. Gillis-Harry emphasized that none of these steps have been completed for the Port Harcourt depot, hence making discussions about the pricing premature, adding that PETROAN has proposed that the NNPC fast-track the process to benefit retail outlet owners.

“To buy product from the NNPC Ltd. entails a couple of things. First, you have to be qualified, which means you need to have a license that is currently active, and you should be on the platform of the NNPC. And while you are there, you need to also have what is called the off-taker permit from NMDPRA to take from that particular depot.

“Once you are qualified for that, you make an application, and NNPC, from what I know, automatically approves certain quantities of products for every retail outlet. And once you are given that, you are given a certain number of days to make the payment. It is only when that payment is done that the NNPC can then programme you to load the product.

CodeTemplarr:
Makes some sense but they should go well beyond this and help people become productive instwad of just pretwnding to understand their poverty.

Abuja — Barring last-minute changes, the Senate will pass the controversial Tax Reform Bills today, exempting those earning below N1 million per annum from the tax net.

Vanguard gathered that most lawmakers who were initially opposed to the bills have changed their position following clarifications given by the Federal Government’s tax executives including the Director-General, Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu; the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji; and the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.

The tax executives, who appeared before the legislators, yesterday said among others that the bills were to tax prosperity and not poverty and that those earning less than One Million Naira a year would be exempted from income tax. They also said sharing of Value Added Tax, VAT, which favours states like Lagos, will be reviewed and made more equitable

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) said when he presided over yesterday’s plenary session that debate on the tax bills will continue today.

Vanguard gathered that the bill will be listed as first reading, followed by an executive session by the Senators, and then expeditiously moved to second reading and passage.
Recall that prior to the rushed break, the Senate had on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, listed the tax reform bills in the Order Paper for first reading, but stood it down along with other items for the screening and confirmation of Amb. Bianca Odinaka Odumegu-Ojukwu and six others as ministers- designate appointed by President Bola Tinubu.

The tax reform bills were however not listed in the Order Paper the following day (Thursday, October 31, 2024) for any legislative action before the legislators embarked on a three-week recess.

Anger, disquiet

Earlier yesterday, anger and shouting matches enveloped the plenary midway as the controversial Tax Reform Bill suddenly came up for debate as it was not before the commencement of plenary stated as one of the items for business of the day.
The session witnessed an intense confrontation as tempers rose over the sudden introduction of the Tax Reform Bill, a move that sparked a shouting match among lawmakers.
Trouble started when the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) came up with a point of order after senators had finished with six items on presentation of bills for first reading and consideration of bills where two debated bills scaled second reading and were referred to relevant committees for further consideration.

Bamidele cited Order 12(1) of the Senate Standing Order as amended to allow the Senate bring in knowledgeable and tax experts into the hallowed chamber to explain to them the tax reform bills that have been introduced by President Tinubu that are presently before the parliament. According to the Senate leader, the section was to allow the Director-General, Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu; Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji; and Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, speak to the lawmakers.

The Senate Leader’s submission was corroborated by Senator Jibrin Barau, who approved that the visitors be allowed into the Chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arms.

Ningi, Ndume kick

However, in a swift reaction, former Deputy Senate leader, Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), raised objections, citing Order 12 of the Senate Standing Rules.
Ningi said there was no provision that allows non-Senators to enter the chamber while in session, as the order excluded categories of government officials being invited to enter the chamber for any form of presentation.
Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, who presided, ruled Ningi out of order, stating that the experts were invited to allow for open discussion on the matter.

As soon as Ningi took his seat, another loud voice shouting ‘point of order’ was heard. This time, the former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) told Barau that as the presiding officer he had the gavel, but he, Ndume, has his voice.

An angry Ndume drew attention of the chamber to the relevant provision in Senate Rules, arguing that visitors are forbidden to speak to the Chamber if their subject matter was not captured on the Order Paper for legislative debate. Ndume insisted that the matter was too important to be manipulated and the Senate should not in any way play around the Tax Reform Bill as Nigerians had spoken.

He said: “This is a very important matter. We should not in any way try to use the position of the Senate because the Order Paper is clear. I have no problem having them to come to explain whatsoever but we must follow known procedures.
“That is, if today it has to be taken, then there must be a supplementary Order Paper that will reflect this. It is not a matter that you will just come and tell us after we are doing business of the day.

“Mr President, you can have your way, but I will have my say. You can use your gavel and I will use my voice. Tax Reform Bill is very sensitive, our people have been agitated over this matter, When you say it is a matter of urgent national importance, yes, but even those matters are normally referred to another legislative day if there are so inconvenient.

“Please I beg you in the name of God, this matter is very important to not only us but also Nigerians that we represent and we swore by Bible and Holy Quran that we will represent the interest of the people. Nigerians have spoken, the Governors, the National Economic Council.”

To further knock off any point of order on prevention of the economic experts from entering the Senate chambers for presentation on the tax reform bills, the Senate Leader cited order 1(b) which gives the Senate the power through resolution at any sitting, to regulate itself .

We’re within our rules —Barau

Reacting, Senator Barau, who insisted that whatever the Senate was doing was within its rules, said that the “Chamber had no time for rhetoric,” saying: “You have made your point. Now we are not here for rhetoric. We are here for facts.”

At this point the Chamber went rowdy while the Deputy Senate President tried to restore order.
Ndume then responded: “Is it because you are sitting there that you are saying a Senator is speaking in rhetoric, you can rule me out of order.”

Ndume, who was infuriated by the arrangement, cited Order 38 to insist that business of the day in the Senate should be based on items listed on the order paper adding, “Mr President, let us follow the laid-down procedure in our Order Paper before admitting the invited economic experts into the chamber.
“You can have your way and use the gavel but I will have my say by using my voice. The matter at hand is very important and Nigerians are very interested in it.”

Ndume was eventually ruled out of order and the visitors were allowed into the chamber to speak on the proposed Tax Reform Bill.

Experts’ presentation

After the fireworks, the economic experts, one after the other, made presentations on the tax reform bills which considerably changed the mindsets of many of the Senators on them.
In his presentation, Taiwo Oyedele dazzled the senators.

Reform not to tax the poor

Oyedele’s Committee came up with the reform bills. He said the reform was not planned to tax poverty but prosperity and most importantly, to correct lopsided tax gain derivation.

He said : “The committee proposes four major bills aimed at overhauling the tax system. The Nigerian Tax Bill seeks to harmonize major taxes into one legislation, simplifies tax processes, and proposes exemptions for low-income earners
.
“The Tax Administration Bill aims at establishing standards for tax administration, promotes the use of technology, and aims to streamline tax collection.
“Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill proposes the establishment of a new revenue service to improve tax collection and coordination among agencies while the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill aims to enhance collaboration among tax authorities and create a Tax Ombudsman to protect small businesses.

“Key proposals of the tax reform bills are elimination of minimum tax for loss-making companies; Introduction of a 15% effective tax rate on profits for large companies; removal of VAT on essential goods and services; and increased tax thresholds for personal income tax to exempt low-income earners.”

VAT revenue sharing

On the contentious revenue sharing formula from VAT, Oyedele explained: “The current VAT sharing formula is deemed unfair, favouring states with major corporate headquarters. The proposal includes a more equitable distribution based on consumption within states as against current sharing formula which lopsidedly favours Lagos State, being host to headquarters of corporate organizations."

Exempting those earning less than N1m from income tax

According to him, the proposed tax reform bills would exempt any Nigerian not earning above N1million per year from personal income tax .
“Today, we are taxing people that earn N30,000 a month. That’s N1,000 a day. How can anybody survive earning N30,000 a month? Even if they live alone, they will do transport, they will buy food, they will pay rent, they will pay for electricity. They cannot survive. So we are proposing in the bill before you that anybody earning N800,000 naira a year, including an extra N200,000 for rent, about N1 million a year, should not pay personal income tax. By the way, this threshold is not even the highest in Africa. It’s still lower than many small African countries,” he said.

In all, the team told the federal lawmakers that the tax reform bills are four different pieces of legislation that seek to bring everything about taxation and administration of tax in Nigeria under four different pieces of legislation.

The bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill; the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.

They explained that the bills contain all major taxes imposed on individuals and companies and that it is just like a compendium of taxes charged in Nigeria.

They said contrary to what some mischievous persons are pushing out, they are meant to radically transform tax administration in Nigeria for greater efficiency, adding that the bills will update archaic tax laws and simplify Nigeria’s complicated tax ecosystem.

Apart from these, they said the tax reforms clearly favour low income earners and small businesses, which will be exempted from paying income taxes and the bills are simply pro-poor, pro-growth and pro-efficiency.

They, therefore, urged the senators to support its passage in order to move the country forward.

Recall that on September 3, 2024, President Tinubu transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration, following the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms headed by Taiwo Oyedele for the review of existing tax laws.

The bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which is expected to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes.

Others are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which will repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.

Also recall that the same day, both the Senate and the House of Representatives embarked on the hurried recess, the National Economic Council, NEC,) chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, resolved that the tax reform bills should be withdrawn from the National Assembly by President Tinubu for wider consultation.

President Tinubu on October 31, 2024, responded to the request that the bills should be allowed to pass through the required legislative processes at both chambers, which according to him, would give concerned Nigerians the opportunity to get details on the bills and make their inputs, particularly at the stage of Public hearing.

bizzle2:
What are you on about you m0r0n . As usual . . unintelligent and brainless . Never any interest in real substance , just praise worshipping of criminal oppressors for pennies and ethnic politics.
Nigeria was refining over 90,000 bpd before your criminal APC took over and deleted that capacity to z Zero.
Like all else of substance , APC destroyed everything, every single thing!!

Typing:
Go and sit down. Buhari gave the Contract, he also paid the contractors their funds fully. Now the refineries are completed. We all say a BIG thank you to Buhari.



Tinubu has not achieved anything since he assumed office 2 years ago

Typing:
Buhari gave the Contract, paid and supervised it. The completion period was this month. How does this relate to Tinubu that has spent 2 years as President without achieving anything?

PressMyButton:
Speaking at the refinery complex yesterday, the Publicity Secretary of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Joseph Obele, commended the NNPC and Tinubu for the feat. Obele described the Port Harcourt refinery as a dream come true, saying this has proved naysayers wrong.

“It is a dream come true. A lot of people have been asking me if it was a rumour or true. We commend the NNPC and the president for this. We now have hope that marketers will be loading at the Port Harcourt refinery,” Obele stressed.

After seven postponements, the Port Harcourt Refinery Company has finally commenced fuel production, promising a daily supply of about 200 trucks, as about one million litres of refined products were released by the plant on Tuesday.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited unveiled the refinery on Tuesday, saying the old facility, which has a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, had been revamped and upgraded with modern equipment.
It said the newly rehabilitated complex of the old Port Harcourt refinery is currently operating at a refining capacity of 70 per cent of its installed capacity.

NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, said the bigger refinery in the Eleme complex that houses the plants, with a 150,000-capacity, had yet to be completed.

Kyari said the bigger plant, including the Warri and Kaduna refineries, would come on stream later. However, he declined to give a timeline because President Bola Tinubu warned him from doing so after several postponements.

“We will deliver all the other projects. We are not going to give a timeline as he (Tinubu) has directed,” the GCEO said while appreciating the President for his support.

During the unveiling of the refinery, NNPC officials conducted stakeholders around the facility where they took samples of petrol, diesel, and kerosene.
The stakeholders who included marketers and the regulators also witnessed the loading of trucks at the gantry. It was stated that about 200 trucks of petrol would be released into the Nigerian market daily.

The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, expressed satisfaction with the development. According to him, with the Dangote refinery and Port Harcourt refinery producing, there will be fuel availability all over the country.
Ahmed also said the rehabilitation of Warri and Kaduna refineries would make Nigeria a net exporter of petroleum products instead of a net importer it has been for years.

The NMDPRA chief executive stated that the refinery would give people choices and promote healthy competition in the downstream sector.
He said the prices of petroleum products would come down due to enough fuel supply in the local market.
“Products will be available nationwide. What is important is that there will be competition and choices. All we’ve been talking about when I spoke in July was about choices, competition, availability, and affordability.
“We will see the prices of petroleum products coming down because there is ample supply. We hope the refinery will continue to sustain the current level of production. We are hoping that the second part of the refinery will come up very soon,” he stated.

Petrol production controversy

There were claims later in the day that the unveiled plant was not producing petrol, as reports had it that the refinery was only blending the product. Sources in the oil sector argued that the plant lacks a catalytic platform unit to produce petrol, stressing that it could only refine crude for other products at the moment.

“There was no and cannot be any PMS produced from the NNPC Port Harcourt (refinery) until the refinery’s catalytic platform unit is installed and made operational! This has not happened!” a top official at the petroleum ministry, who spoke in confidence due to the nature of the matter, stated.

This was, however, countered by NNPC in another statement, where it also mentioned that plans were ongoing to ramp up production capacity to 90 per cent while dismissing claims that the refinery was not producing products.

The NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, said, “For clarity, the old Port Harcourt Refinery is currently operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90 per cent.”
The statement further explained that diesel and Pour Fuel Oil would be the highest output from the refinery, with a daily capacity of 1.5 million litres and 2.1 million litres, respectively.

[/b]This is followed by a daily output of Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha) blended into 1.4 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), 900,000 litres of kerosene, and low-pour fuel oil of 2.1 million litres. The NNPCL further confirmed that its petroleum products were blended with crack C5 to meet the required specifications.
It also noted that the blending plant was utilised with global standards, as no single unit can produce gasoline that fully complies with the required standards.[/b]

“It is worth noting that the refinery incorporates crack C5, a blending component from our sister company, Indorama Petrochemicals (formerly Eleme Petrochemicals), to produce gasoline that meets required specifications.

“Blending is a standard practice in refineries globally, as no single unit can produce gasoline that fully complies with any country’s standards without such processes. Additionally, we have made substantial progress on the new Port Harcourt Refinery, which will begin operations soon without prior announcements.”

Marketers await supply

Meanwhile, petroleum marketers said they are waiting to lift fuel from the state-owned refinery soon. According to them, lifting products would be seamless because they are already customers of the NNPC.

Speaking at the refinery complex yesterday, the Publicity Secretary of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Joseph Obele, commended the NNPC and Tinubu for the feat. Obele described the Port Harcourt refinery as a dream come true, saying this has proved naysayers wrong.

“It is a dream come true. A lot of people have been asking me if it was a rumour or true. We commend the NNPC and the president for this. We now have hope that marketers will be loading at the Port Harcourt refinery,” Obele stressed.

He spoke further in a statement, “PETROAN was fully on the ground with National President Dr Billy Gillis Hary and other national officers of PETROAN at the ceremonial commencement at Alesa Eleme and indeed the smile on people’s faces was a clear indication of joy arising the commencement of loading after a six years dormant state.

PETROAN expresses optimism that the commencement of production at Port Harcourt refinery will usher in job opportunities, boost the economy and trigger competition at the downstream sector which will invariably reflect significantly to a price downward review.

“We reaffirm our commitment to synergising with the management of NNPC Retail and other stakeholders in ensuring that products lifted at the Port Harcourt refinery depot are well distributed to all the nooks and crannies of the nation at the right time with the right price.”

Also, the spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, said this was a welcome development. Ukadike said this was the beauty of deregulation, which he said has now removed monopolies, giving marketers two sources to get petroleum products. The IPMAN publicity scribe noted that marketers are now the beautiful bride to the two refineries.

“IPMAN members are delighted about the Port Harcourt refinery. Right now we have double sources of petroleum products. The issue of monopoly is gone. The deregulation competition has started. We the Independent marketers are now the beautiful bride. Anywhere the product is cheap, we will buy it. The competition has started and we are happy. Activities around the host community have picked up. And the congestion in Ibeju-Lekki and Apapa will be reduced,” he submitted.

In his words, the Chief Executive Officer of Matrix Energy, Abdulkabir Aliu, who the NNPC boss described as the lender for the project, said the love of the country was why the company released funds for the project.
Aliu recalled that some individuals have told Matrix Energy to write off the debt when it seemed the refinery was not going to come back to life.

“We believe in this country and this is why we put our money down. Some people have told us to write the money off,“ the Matrix Energy boss said as he congratulated the NNPC.

The Port Harcourt refinery would be the second petrol-producing refinery after the Dangote refinery commenced PMS production in September. At the moment, the Port Harcourt plant is the only plant that could partially compete with the 650,000-capacity Dangote refinery.
It was gathered that marketers have not been able to lift products directly from the Dangote refinery.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu is seeking speedy completion of Warri and Kaduna refineries.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu extended his heartfelt congratulations to the NNPC on the successful revitalisation of the refinery.

The President acknowledges the pivotal role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all our refineries and expresses gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing this critical project.

Furthermore, President Tinubu commends the leadership of NNPC Limited’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari, whose unwavering dedication and commitment were instrumental in overcoming challenges to achieve this milestone.

“With the successful revival of the Port Harcourt refinery, President Tinubu urges NNPC Limited to expedite the scheduled reactivation of both the second Port Harcourt refinery and the Warri and Kaduna refineries,” the statement read.

He said these efforts will significantly enhance domestic production capacity alongside the contributions of privately-owned refineries and make Nigeria a major energy hub, with the gas sector also enjoying unprecedented attention by the administration.

“The President underscores his administration’s determination to repair the nation’s refineries, aiming to eradicate the disheartening perception of Nigeria as a major crude oil producer that lacks the ability to refine its own resources for domestic consumption.

“Highlighting the values of patience, integrity, and accountability in the rebuilding of the nation’s infrastructure, President Tinubu calls upon individuals, institutions, and citizens entrusted with responsibilities to maintain focus and uphold trust in their service to the nation.

“In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda focused on shared economic prosperity for all, the President reaffirms his administration’s commitment to achieving energy sufficiency, enhancing energy security, and boosting export capacity for Nigeria,” the statement concluded.

iamtoofan:
if it takes Tinubu govt two years to fix a 60000 capacity ph refinery what is the probability he will fix 3 refineries plus ajaokuta before 2027

Have you seen Nigerians respond to the ph refinery update, do you see happiness or jubilation, under two days Ph refinery have being expose to blend and not have pricing model, how can you produce and not have a price, how do you explain govt refinery price higher than Dangote price


And you think Nigerians will stupidly vote A punisher like Tinubu that as only made Life a living hell for Nigerians from day one

You cant look at Tinubu govt n make sense of anything, what will Tinubu tell us in 2027 a maa gbe wa lè abi .. Tinubu will rot in hell rite after the devil

kelechi84:
As if he was the one that started the project. That project was about 95% ready before he came in last year. He takes credit for being in power when it started functioning. If he wants praises, let him start a project and see it completed.

ddippset:
You need to wake up.

If we are paying more for fuel now than we were paying during the subsidy regime it means one thing..

A shift in the people chopping the money. Simple!

It means Tinubu has removed the loot from the subsidy cabal to another cabal.

Wake up.

Typing:
Lies.
It is Buhari that fixed the refineries. Tinubu want to sow where he did not reap. So far, Tinubu has not done any positive thing in Nigeria.

Zionmdde:
The common man is still buying fuel over 1k, something tinubu met at 185. Jinx breaker ko, suffering imposer ni

Refinery this refinery that, as long as the common man is not directly feeling the positive effects, it's all rubbish

naptu2:
PARAMO is in honour of the late developer of the market, Alhaji Hassan Olajoku, who constructed the market through his company "Paramo Development Ventures Limited" in 2002.

The Mayor of Urhoboland and head of the Association of Urhobo Mayoral Family Crown (AUMFC), His Excellency Eshanekpe Israel, a.k.a. Akpodoro, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Chief Group Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Mele Kyari, for the successful commencement of petroleum product loading at the Port Harcourt Refinery.

In a statement following the announcement of the refinery’s resumed operations on Tuesday, Akpodoro described President Tinubu as a “jinx breaker” who has achieved what previous administrations could not, “President Tinubu has demonstrated capacity and dexterity,” Akpodoro stated, noting that successive administrations had turned the refinery repairs into a financial drain, failing to revitalize the facility despite borrowing billions for its maintenance.

The Mayor further criticized past administrations, particularly those of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of using the refinery as a “conduit pipe to drain national wealth” and failing to deliver results.

He also highlighted the shortcomings of the immediate past APC-led administration under Muhammadu Buhari, which, despite funding efforts, could not operationalize the refinery due to systemic corruption. “Today, the man we voted for against all odds has delivered a legacy project to Nigerians,” Akpodoro declared, praising Tinubu’s leadership and vision.

He expressed optimism that with the refinery’s operation at a capacity of 65,000 barrels per day, Nigeria’s energy crisis would ease and market forces might drive down fuel prices.

The Mayor also lauded Mele Kyari for his resilience, patriotism, and leadership in managing a sensitive corporation like the NNPCL. He pointed out that Kyari has navigated challenges such as oil theft and public mistrust, demonstrating statesmanship in ensuring the refinery’s progress despite sabotage attempts aimed at maintaining the dependency on fuel importation. “This milestone gives hope to Nigerians that a brighter future is possible,” Akpodoro concluded.

The resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt Refinery marks a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to enhance energy self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.

Mindlog:
As the Nigeria's ambassador in France.

MC Oluomo’s ex and designer, Ehi Ogbebor, has shared photos from her visit to his office in Abuja
Ehi Ogbebor shared the purpose of her visit to the NURTW president, who she called a good man.

Popular interior designer Ehi Ogbebor is the first celebrity to share pictures from her courtesy visit to her ex Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, after his appointment as the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Ehi Ogbebor, who used to be an item with Oluomo in the past, was seen with some people who seemed to be a part of her crew at the NURTW president’s office in Abuja.

The interior designer revealed she visited Oluomo to congratulate him on his new appointment.
She posted pictures of her visit, describing MC Oluomo as a good man, adding that his new appointment was well-deserved.

“Stopped by to congratulate a Good Friend n a good man on His new appointment…..Alhaji Ayinde….alias presido Nurtw….Congratulations…well deserved," Ehi wrote in her caption.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced on Wednesday that its Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai successfully neutralized over 20 terrorists and destroyed a gun truck during two separate operations on November 25, 2024, in Kukawa, Borno State. The airstrikes also thwarted an attempted attack on troops in the area.

Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, speaking on the operations, stated:
“In the first mission, NAF fighter jets destroyed a gun truck and neutralized several fighters. The second mission provided close air support to repel an attack on our ground troops.”

The initial operation was based on credible intelligence indicating the presence of a terrorists’ gun truck approximately five kilometers west of Kukawa. NAF fighter jets responded swiftly, acquiring and engaging the target with precision strikes, effectively destroying the gun truck and significantly reducing the terrorists’ operational capacity.

In the second mission, the Air Component responded to a distress call from ground troops under heavy attack by terrorists on motorcycles. NAF air assets arrived promptly and engaged the attackers at various intervals, neutralizing several of them.

“The operation resulted in the recovery of over 20 abandoned motorcycles by ground troops,” Akinboyewa noted. “Our forces are now pursuing wounded and fleeing terrorists to capitalize on the momentum.”

Reaffirming the NAF’s commitment to national security, Akinboyewa added, “The NAF remains dedicated to the collective effort to restore peace and security across the country. We will continue to provide effective airpower in support of our ground forces and other security agencies.”
The successful missions mark another significant step in the ongoing fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

mrvitalis:
When I hear they are revamping Kaduna refinery I was like why?

Hope u guys know Kaduna refinery can't refine Nigerian crude grade?


https://guardian.ng/news/kaduna-refinery-not-caliberated-for-nigerias-crude-oil/

chidiokay:
Maybe you are the one being gullible, did we hear dangote blend c5 and naphta to produce pms, is there something about the rumour that Nnpc refuted in real sense

Just few weeks ago Nnpc were insisting importation must continue is that they never believed the refinery will work or they didnt know ph refinery is about to commence operation .... suddenly out of nowhere they claim refinery is working and trucks are loading, no one saw any buildup prior to yesterday.

Did you remember Nigeria airline and the rice pyramid staged, with those antecedence why will any sane mind believe a party like APC

Babangidapikin:
Would you keep quiet ...Chochocho .... it is just 60000 BPD ..As if it is not in Buhari's administration the contract was awarded ...

ideynl1:
Refinery or blending plant? Jokers!!
APC and propaganda. Just like Air Nigeria.

livebyday:
This has been bursted as a lie. Typical SW propaganda and lies. PH refinery has not resumed at all.

They purchased C5 resin cracked it and loaded it into trucks for camera photos and videos just to claim that Tinubu has fixed the refinery

Never seen a people so addicted to lies deceit fake stats and propaganda