Amidst the joy and sense of relief which the successful reactivation of the Port Harcourt refinery has ushered within the energy sector and to Nigerians, truck owners, petroleum marketers and tanker drivers still have many worries.
As The Trumpet went into town to confirm the veracity of the reported commencement of operations by the Port Harcourt refinery, tanker drivers who were waiting for their turns to position their vehicles for loading lamented the deplorable condition of the road from Eleme Junction on the East-West Road to the refinery.
The poor condition of the road has remained a source of concern to both residents, business operators and commuters.
In 2022, the Ogoni Youth Council mobilized the youths in the four Ogoni local government areas of Rivers State and blocked the road at Akpajo Junction for a week following failure of the federal government to respond to the ultimatum issued by the youths to begin reconstruction work.
The action of the youths had resulted in a colossal loss of revenue by both the government and several companies operating at the Onne Oil and Gas free Zone, including the Federal Lighter Terminal and the Federal Ocean Terminal all situated in Onne.
The then minister of Niger Delta Affairs and current Senate president, Chief Godswill Akpabio was forced to come down from Abuja and address the youths with assurances that the road would be reconstructed before the youths opened the roads.
It however took another long while and threats of a comeback by the youths before the federal government mobilized Reynolds Construction Company, RCC which has been on a perfunctory exercise on the road.
From Trailer Park to Eleme Junction on the East-West Road where the contract terminates is about 15 kilometers but RCC by professional estimation has not covered up to 5 kilometers.
There are about three flyovers and a bridge on the road stretch which the company has only succeeded in planting some underground pillars at three locations while mounting barricades at different places forcing vehicles into a snake-like meandering movement along the bumpy road.
Many tanker drivers and importers either conveying petroleum products from the refinery or containers of imported goods from Onne whatf have different heart-rending tales to tell about the losses they have suffered on the road as the trucks conveying the products or goods often. collapse and spill the contents running into millions of naira.
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Early this year, a head-on collision by two trucks in front of the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Company gate resulted in a conflagration that consumed no less than 50 vehicles that were trapped on a gridlock that is a regular feature on the road because of the terrible condition of the road.
So the excitement of rehabilitation of the refinery is one of mixed feelings for the truck owners on one hand, the petroleum marketers and truck drivers on the other hand.
A truck mechanic who spoke to The Trumpet confirmed that the truck owners are under heavy pressure arising from the cost of maintaining the vehicles as a result of the deplorable condition of the road.
Meanwhile, the entire refinery complex is now wearing a ravishing new look as all the buildings and offices have been repainted in bright colors. One can now perceive an aura of life coming out from the edifice that used to look like one marooned,archaic edifice.
Business operators around the precincts of the refinery are now in jubilant mood expecting a boom in their businesses as soon as the refinery bounces back. One of the operators told The Trumpet that he was planning to go and sell one of his lands and use the proceeds to boost his business expecting quick returns in a matter of months.
The coming back to life of the refinery would also have a multiplier effect on socio-economic life generally within the host communities of Eleme and Okrika in the area of employment generation, crime reduction and value addition to land and properties.
The euphoria that the refinery has ‘resurrected’ ought to elicit an all ecompassing joy that should reflect on the attitude of the authorities at the complex, but it was a chagrin that even journalists were not allowed access to speak with relevant sources.
Attempts to take a shot of the new look of the complex were resisted by stern looking, arm bearing soldiers who threatened fire and brimstone and instead took a shot of our correspondent and his ID card with a warning that if anything on the refinery appeared on the internet, they would come for him.
Who wants to deny Nigerians this only piece of good news from the Tinubu administration?
