General
NNPC Insists Port Harcourt Refinery Processing PMS, Others
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has rubbished claims by a resident of the community hosting the newly revamped Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State, Mr Timothy Mgbere, that the facility was not processing crude oil as publicised by the NNPC.
On Tuesday, the NNPC announced to the world that the oil facility, repaired with about $1.5 billion approved in 2021, was processing crude oil at 60 per cent capacity.
The refinery was built many years ago to refine about 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day but had been left fallow until the immediate past President of Nigeria, Mr Muhammadu Buhari, approved funds for its rehabilitation.
After missing several completion deadlines, the state-owned energy company announced on Tuesday that it was now processing crude oil, with trucks seen offloading premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
However, some hours later, Mr Mgbere informed Arise TV that the oil refinery was not working as claimed by the NNPC.
Reacting to this in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr Olufemi Soneye, on Friday, the NNPC asked members of the public to ignore Mr Mgbere because his assertions were a “crass display of ignorance.”
It noted that Mr Mgbere lacked the “knowledge about the workings of the Port Harcourt Refinery.”
“1. He claimed that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery was only operating skeletally and was not processing PMS. His proof was that the PMS truck-out was done at the gantry of the New Port Harcourt Refinery as against the gantry of the Old Port Harcourt Refinery. This betrays his scant knowledge of the operations of the refinery. The Old and New Port Harcourt Refineries have since been integrated with one single terminal for product load-out. They share common utilities like power and storage tanks. This means that storage tanks and loading gantry which he claimed belong to the New Port-Harcourt Refinery can also receive products from the Old Port Harcourt Refinery.
“2. The same person who claimed that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery has its own separate loading gantry from that of the New Port Harcourt Refinery further went on to contradict himself by saying that the PMS that was loaded out from the supposed loading gantry of the New Port Harcourt Refinery was “old stock” from the Old Port Harcourt Refinery. So, how did the purported “old stock” move from the Old Port Harcourt Refinery to the loading gantry of the New Port Harcourt Refinery?
“3. Going by the flawed argument of the so-called ‘community person’, “old PMS stock” from the Old Port Harcourt Refinery can be moved to the loading gantry of the New Port-Harcourt Refinery for the show, but newly produced PMS from the Old Port-Harcourt Refinery can only be loaded at its own dedicated gantry. This is nothing but ignorance on full display!
“4. There are a number of other wild claims made by the man, one of which was that the refinery was producing 1.4 million barrels per day. The nameplate capacity of the refinery is 60,000 barrels of oil per day. It is currently producing at 90 per cent throughput which translates to Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha) blended into 1.4 million litres of PMS, aside from other products like diesel and kerosene.
“5. We call on the general public to disregard the claims of the self-acclaimed ‘community person’ which are obviously borne out of sheer mischief and blatant display of ignorance,” the statement said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos International Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of Lagos State was shut down on Wednesday by traders protesting the proposed takeover of the facility by state and local government authorities.
The aggrieved demonstrators emphasised that the complex belongs to the federal government, and if there is a transfer of ownership to the state and local governments, then stakeholders should be carried along.
They expressed concerns that handing over the trade fair complex to the duo could be disruptive, and traders may have to pay more taxes and levies, which will, in turn, result in higher prices of goods.
In protest of the planned takeover, the traders yesterday locked up their shops, especially those in the ASPANDA Market segment within the facility, where spare parts are sold.
Apparently worried about the situation, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms Jumoke Oduwole, visited the market to talk to the traders.
She urged them to reopen the complex, as efforts are being made by the federal government to resolve the issue amicably.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a court order to extend the detention of former Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Nasir El-Rufai.
This order gives the anti-graft agency ample time to finalise its investigation into allegations against the former governor, which has now deepened as a result of some new findings.
Subsequently, the new order, which was granted on Tuesday in the presence of Mr El-Rufai’s lawyer, will expire on Thursday, March 19.
However, Mr El-Rufai’s lawyer, whose application to quash the first remand order was declined by a Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari, has returned to the same court to nullify the latest order.
Justice Okechukwu John Akweke has fixed March 17 to decide whether or not he should set aside the latest detention order.
He said, “Upon hearing and listening to the prosecuting counsel, Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha Esq., praying this Honourable court for the following orders:
“An order of this Honourable Court issuing a remand warrant against the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) in favour of the Applicant, i.e. Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to detain the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) in its custody for another fourteen (14) days pending conclusion of investigation activities on allegations of Money Laundering/abuse of office.
“And for such other or further order(s) as this Honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances. It is hereby ordered that: Application granted as prayed.
“That the Applicant, i.e. the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission ICPC is hereby ordered to re-detain the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) for an additional 14 days to enable the commission to conclude investigation activities.
“That the return date shall be the 19th day of March 2026, for the report of compliance.”
The scrutiny of Mr El-Rufai by the ICPC follows the report of the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s ad hoc committee constituted in 2024 to investigate finances, loans and contracts awarded between 2015 and 2023 under his eight-year administration of the state.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has begun evacuating willing Nigerians in Iran, escorting them across the Armenian border to ensure their safety amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The evacuation follows the growing crisis that began on February 28 after coordinated military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel.
The attacks triggered retaliatory missile and drone strikes across parts of the region, raising fears of a wider conflict.
The chief executive of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this in a post on her X handle on Tuesday.
She said officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the evacuation of Nigerians who wish to leave the country and are facilitating their safe passage into Armenia.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa also reassured that no Nigerian in Iran has so far been affected by the ongoing tensions, noting that embassy officials remain stationed at the border to receive and assist evacuees.
Her post read, “Willing Nigerians [are] being escorted across the Armenian border by officials of the Nigerian embassy in Iran for safe passage. No Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the war as officials remain at the border to receive all who want to leave.”
The development comes as tensions in parts of the Middle East continue to raise concerns over the safety of foreign nationals residing in affected areas.
For repatriation flights, the NiDCOM chair said the airspace is currently unsafe but assured Nigerians in the Middle East that the Federal Government team is on standby to evacuate them.
“And as for repatriation flights, the skies are currently unsafe to fly. Luckily, a flight came in from the UAE to Lagos two days ago, just before another strike and the closure of the airspace.
“Once the airspace opens, the multi-agency FG team on crisis and evacuation is on standby. Our prayers are with you and all our people in affected countries,” she said.
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