General
Closure of PH Refinery Petrol Producing Unit Worries Stakeholders
By Adedapo Adesanya
Stakeholders have expressed worries as the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) has commenced the shutdown of its Area 5 (60,000 barrels per day capacity old refinery plant) for routine turnaround maintenance.
Over the weekend, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited said the move was aimed at boosting efficiency and operational performance.
In a statement signed by Mr Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Limited said the shutdown will allow for scheduled maintenance and a sustainability assessment of the facility.
“This scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment will commence on May 24, 2025,” the company stated, adding that it is working with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, to ensure transparency and efficiency,” it said.
The closure of the facility has sparked criticism from many quarters, with Business Post gathering that workers have been told in clear terms not to speak to external stakeholders, particularly the press.
In an internal memo titled Area 5 Plant Shutdown for Routine Turnaround Maintenance and signed by Mr Leo Njoku, Human Capital Management Lead, Operations and Maintenance, PHRC Project, the management said all operations and maintenance personnel were explicitly instructed to avoid interaction with visitors, particularly the press.
Mr Njoku in the memo also cautioned the workers against speaking to NNPC Limited top executives, government officials, and members of the press, expected on-site during the maintenance window.
“Mind your business. No interaction with external people or giving information to press people,” the memo warned.
The directive goes further to threaten disciplinary action for any employee caught speaking to the media.
“As Government workers, it is against the Labour Law to engage pressmen in interviews. It attracts its sanctions. HCM will be monitoring staff activities during this period. There will be severe disciplinary consequences for defaulters,” the memo reads.
The strong language and tone of the memo come amid heightened public scrutiny of NNPCL operations, especially as the 30-day shutdown has sparked concern among stakeholders, as the NNPCL just six months ago on November 26th 2024 had with pomp and pageantry announced the commencement of production after seven missed deadlines.
The Area 5 plant shutdown is part of PHRC’s ongoing efforts to fully restore refining capacity after years of dormancy and partial rehabilitation.
This development comes after the Host Community Petroleum Bulk Retailers accused the refinery coordinator, Mr Bayo Aderenle, of orchestrating a plot to cripple the plant in favor of private refinery interests.
Market analysts sat this development is raising questions around transparency over the operations of the refinery.
On its part, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, has warned that any delay beyond the scheduled 30-day maintenance period could trigger fuel supply disruptions and deepen economic hardship across the country.
In a statement signed by the National PRO, Mr Joseph Obele, PETROAN acknowledged that the maintenance was necessary but insisted that the state oil firm must stick to the one month timeline to avoid supply shocks and market instability.
Quoting its National President, Mr Billy Gillis-Harry, the association is particularly worried about systemic bottlenecks that have historically plagued turnaround maintenance efforts, which may once again derail the timeline.
“The repair process must include the Premium Motor Spirit blending unit, as the crude oil cracking process is of no value without it.”
To ensure transparency and accountability, PETROAN is demanding the creation of a special task force, comprising members of the Petroleum Industry Stakeholders Forum, to oversee the repairs and provide weekly progress updates to Nigerians.
Among other key demands by PETROAN include, “Timely completion of repairs before stock depletion, to prevent product scarcity and market monopolization.”
Others are, “Prompt payments to contractors to avoid project delays. Inclusion of critical infrastructure like the PMS blending unit to ensure full operational value upon restart.”
PETROAN cautioned that failure to deliver on schedule could worsen economic pressure on Nigerians already grappling with inflation, energy costs, and foreign exchange instability.
The group urged NNPC to not only meet expectations but also to prove that years of rehabilitation efforts will finally yield tangible results for the country’s ailing downstream sector.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Ebonyi State Police Command has insisted on conducting a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death of Miss Mary Habila, a physiotherapist who died at the residence of the Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The demise of the deceased, which occurred in late June, recently became public and has sparked calls for a probe from many quarters.
Meanwhile, the family of the deceased has approached the court to stop the autopsy, but experts tell Business Post that the family has no authority to file an affidavit, as this is a case of suspected murder against the state and not the family.
Mr Umahi has also called for a probe.
The Ebonyi Police Command said the autopsy was necessary to establish the cause of death and support its ongoing investigation, despite objections from the deceased’s family.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, stating that the police had commenced a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms Habila’s death.
Mr Ukandu said preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased and a colleague were members of the medical team attached to the Minister of Works and had accompanied him to his hometown in Uburu, where she later died in a room within the compound of his residence.
According to him, detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) have visited the scene, documented relevant evidence and obtained statements from persons connected to the incident.
He added that the command had concluded arrangements to engage a qualified pathologist to carry out a post-mortem examination, which it considers crucial to determining the actual cause of death.
Mr Ukandu explained that the police became involved in the matter after receiving a distress call on June 27, 2026, from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ohaozara Division, informing the command of a medical emergency involving Habila and requesting his presence at the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu.
“On arrival, the DPO was informed by hospital authorities that Miss Mary Habila had been brought in dead.
He immediately briefed the Commissioner of Police, who directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough investigation,” the statement read.
The police spokesperson disclosed that while the family of the deceased had opposed the conduct of an autopsy, the command considered the procedure necessary in view of the circumstances surrounding the death.
“The Command therefore awaits the attendance of the family or their duly appointed representative, as their presence is essential to the conduct of the post-mortem examination,” Mr Ukandu said, assuring the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally, transparently and without bias, stressing that every necessary step would be taken to uncover the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
Mr Ukandu further assured that the command would continue to provide updates as the investigation progresses.
Family Seeks to Stop Autopsy
The family of the deceased, who is a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences and was seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works, formally requested the withdrawal of further investigation into her death and declined an autopsy.
In an affidavit titled Affidavit of Withdrawal of Case filed before the High Court of Justice of Ebonyi State, her father, Tanko Habila Wisdom, said the family was not alleging any foul play in her death and wished to proceed with her burial.
According to the affidavit, Mary Habila died on June 27, 2026, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The deponent stated that before her death, Habila was a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences and had been seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works in Mabushi, Abuja, where she served in the Office of the Minister of Works for about three years.
By Adedapo Adesanya
A Federal High Court in Apo, Abuja, has ordered the final forfeiture of billions of Naira worth of assets linked to businesswoman and socialite, Ms Aisha Achimugu, to the federal government.
Justice Jude Onwugbuzie granted the order following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), directing the permanent forfeiture of jewellery valued at N4.645 billion, 11 exotic vehicles worth N4.293 billion, $50,000 and N30 million in cash.
The ruling followed the EFCC’s request for the final forfeiture of the assets, which the commission said were linked to Ms Achimugu.
The forfeited assets include: Jewellery valued at N4,645,170,294.90; 11 exotic vehicles worth N4,293,000,000; $50,000 in cash; and N30,000,000 in cash.
The court’s judgment vests ownership of the assets in the federal government, bringing the forfeiture proceedings to a close.
In March, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed the final forfeiture of $13 million linked to the Lagos socialite. However, in an interview in April, she denied that $13 million was discovered by the EFCC in her residence, describing the claim as inaccurate and misleading.
Justice Nwite had, on August 22, 2025, granted the anti-graft agency’s motion ex parte for an interim order forfeiting the sum of $13 million linked to Oceangate Ltd to the federal government over allegations that the fund was proceeds of unlawful activity.
The judge had then directed the commission to publish the order in a national daily for interested people to show cause within 14 days why the fund should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
In 2024, the businesswoman gained significant media attention for a seven-day birthday celebration in Grenada, which was attended by high-profile guests, reportedly including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The socialite also defended her widely publicised birthday celebration, noting that it had been “planned for 10 years” and was not funded with any money under investigation.
By Adedapo Adesanya
To boost fertiliser production, strengthen food security and advance Nigeria’s domestic gas utilisation agenda, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has signed a 16-year Gas Sale Agreement (GSA) with Indorama Fertiliser FZE for the supply of up to 60 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Assa North Ohaji South (ANOH) Gas Processing Facility.
The agreement was signed by the chief executive of Renaissance, Mr Tony Attah, and Indorama’s counterpart, Mr Manish Mundra, with both executives describing the deal as a significant milestone in advancing Nigeria’s domestic gas utilisation agenda, industrial development, and agricultural growth aspirations.
“This agreement reflects our commitment to unlocking the value of Nigeria’s abundant gas resources through partnerships that create real and lasting impact,” Mr Attah said, adding: “By supplying natural gas to a major fertiliser producer such as Indorama, we are supporting a value chain that is critical to food security, agricultural productivity, industrial growth, and economic development.”
The agreement will provide Indorama Fertiliser with a secure and reliable source of natural gas to support uninterrupted production and enable the company to meet growing domestic and regional demand for fertiliser products.
The resulting increase in fertiliser availability is expected to contribute to improved crop yields, enhanced agricultural productivity, and strengthened food security across Nigeria and Africa.
Commenting on the agreement, Mr Mundra said the deal was an important milestone for the company in its ambition of supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.
“Reliable access to natural gas is fundamental to fertiliser production, and this long-term arrangement provides a strong foundation for sustainable operations and future growth,” Mr Mundra said. “We appreciate the partnership with Renaissance and look forward to leveraging this collaboration.”
The transaction aligns closely with Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative and further demonstrates the strategic role of natural gas in driving industrialisation, supporting manufacturing, enhancing energy security, and enabling economic diversification.
