The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to strictly comply with the 30-day repair schedule announced for the Port Harcourt Refinery.
In a statement released on Sunday, PETROAN spokesperson Joseph Obele said the association is deeply concerned about the potential impact of any delay in the refinery’s maintenance, which was announced by NNPCL on Saturday for sustainability and operational assessment.
Reacting to the shutdown, PETROAN’s National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, acknowledged the necessity of maintenance but stressed that timely completion is critical.
He warned that exceeding the 30-day timeline could worsen the country’s fuel supply challenges and further strain millions of Nigerians already battling economic hardship.
According to PETROAN, delays could also negatively affect its members who have invested heavily in purchasing petroleum products from the NNPCL refinery depot, resulting in massive capital losses.
To mitigate these risks, the association outlined specific demands to NNPCL:
Inclusion of PMS Blending Unit: PETROAN insists the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) blending unit must be included in the repair scope, noting that crude oil cracking is ineffective without it.
Timely Completion: The repair must be concluded before current product stocks are exhausted to prevent supply gaps and market monopolisation.
Market Competition: PETROAN emphasised that prompt completion will help maintain a competitive fuel market, which is vital for consumer protection and economic stability.
Task Force Formation: The group urged the Minister of Petroleum to establish a task force made up of all stakeholders in the petroleum industry to oversee the 30-day repair process.
Weekly Progress Briefings: The proposed task force should provide weekly updates to Nigerians, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Prompt Contractor Payments: PETROAN also called for timely disbursement of funds to contractors to avoid any project delays.
The association reiterated its support for refinery rehabilitation but stressed that discipline in project execution is necessary to avoid a fresh wave of fuel scarcity and inflation.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
PETROAN’s strong response underscores a broader concern in the petroleum sector: the need for efficiency, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria’s critical infrastructure projects.
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