Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) under the leadership of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mallam Mele Kyari over the recent restreaming of the nation’s oldest refinery, the Port Harcourt Refinery.
Fani-Kayode gave the commendation in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday.
According to him, the resurrection of the Port Harcourt refinery is one of the most encouraging things that has happened in the petroleum sector for many years and the credit for this must go to the the President and the GMD of NNPC Limited.
He lambasted some critics, especially, private sector players who are trying to undermine the success recorded.
“It is a pity that some elements in the private sector who are new in the field are doing all they can to undermine and understate this great victory for Nigeria,” it said.
Kayode who was also the Minister of Culture and Tourism, reminded the industry players that oil business is not the same as selling sugar, spaghetti, cement or rice, therefore, no matter how hard they try they cannot muscle their way and create a monopoly on the sale of refined products as they did for other commodities over the years.
Noting that NNPC would go from strength to strength and once its other refineries are working as well Nigerians would have cause to smile again.
“Let the new kid on the block flourish but let the NNPC refineries flourish too. That should be our goal and not a squalid attempt to discredit NNPC and its leadership.
“Every optimistic and true lover of Nigeria’s progress and President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda must be proud of the GMD Mele Kyari.
“His tenacity, bravery, ingenuity and forthrightness has been rewarded with this great feat. Surely this is hope renewed for Nigerians,” Kayode noted.
TheFact Daily reports that the Port Harcourt Refinery commenced production and truck-out of products three days ago, after over two years of rehabilitation.
Located in Alesa Eleme in Rivers State, the two refineries with a combined capacity of 210,000 barrels (33,000 m) per stream day is expected to augment the Dangote Refinery as the country prepares to end fuel importation by next year.
