By John Audu.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized the recent invitation extended to him by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), labeling it as disrespectful.
The NNPCL, through its spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, invited the former president to tour the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. This invitation came after an interview Obasanjo gave on Channels Television, where he discussed his unsuccessful attempts to privatize oil plants in Nigeria.
Obasanjo expressed his frustration over the ongoing mismanagement of the country’s refineries, pointing out that despite substantial investments since 2007, there have been no tangible results. He recounted that his successor, Musa Yar’Adua, had turned down a $750 million offer from Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.
According to Obasanjo, the NNPCL was aware of its limitations in managing the refineries but assured Yar’Adua that it could operate them, leading to the rejection of Dangote’s proposal. He stated, “When I was president, I sought to address the issues with the three refineries: Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna. Aliko assembled a team and offered $750 million for a Public-Private Partnership to run the refineries. My successor refunded their money. When I spoke to him about it, he said the NNPC claimed they could manage the refineries, and I replied, ‘But you know they cannot run it.’”
Obasanjo further noted, “I was informed recently that over $2 billion has been wasted on the refineries since then, yet they remain non-functional.” He emphasized that if a reputable company like Shell declined his offer to manage the refineries, he would trust their judgment.
He expressed confidence in Dangote’s ability to effectively manage his privately owned refinery, contrasting it with the government’s inefficiency.
In response, NNPCL spokesperson Femi Soneye asserted that the refineries were operational. He explained that the NNPCL had not only conducted turnaround maintenance on the facilities but had also undertaken a complete overhaul to meet world-class standards. Soneye stated, “We extend an open invitation to former President Obasanjo to tour the rehabilitated refineries and witness firsthand the progress made under the new NNPC Limited.”
However, Obasanjo remarked that such an open invitation was disrespectful to his office and person. Speaking through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, he stated that as of January 2, 2024, the oil company had not sent him any formal invitation.
“Is that the appropriate way to invite a former president? Who says Baba has even seen the statement or read the news? It is a total disrespect for the office of the former president. Ask the NNPCL if they have sent an official letter inviting him to the refinery. It is an absolute insult, and the former president cannot dignify such a gesture with a response,” Akinyemi concluded.
