The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has raised concerns over the continued shutdown of the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries months after their reported rehabilitation. The association has called on the Federal Government to allow the newly appointed Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to operate without interference.
Speaking at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) complex, IPMAN Delta State Chairman, Comrade Harry Omojevwe Okenini, expressed frustration over the lack of petrol supply since the Warri refinery’s commissioning on January 5, 2025.
“Since the commissioning, IPMAN has not been able to load a single litre of petrol from the refinery. The place is completely dry. Nothing has happened since then,” Okenini stated.
He accused NNPCL of failing to supply products to marketers, forcing them to rely on private depots where prices fluctuate unpredictably.
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“We cannot remain idle, so we have been sourcing products from private depots. But these depots keep increasing prices daily, making business almost impossible. The market is collapsing, and we are struggling to survive,” he lamented.
Okenini also revealed that Dangote Refinery, which had been a relief source for marketers, has stopped supplying them due to a directive requiring the company to purchase crude oil in dollars.
He urged the new NNPCL leadership to take decisive action and restart full-scale operations at the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.
“The new management team consists of experienced professionals from Shell, Total, and Seplat. But the big question is—will the President allow them to work? He is the Minister of Petroleum, and his decision will determine whether these refineries come back to life.”
Okenini appealed to the Federal Government to grant the new NNPCL leadership the autonomy needed to revive the industry.
“If the government gives them a free hand, we are hopeful things will improve soon,” he concluded.
The fuel crisis continues to bite, leaving Nigerians anxious for solutions as the nation grapples with a worsening energy crisis.
