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The Nigeria’s House of Representatives has resorted to probe money spent on the rehabilitation of the country’s refineries
The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Sesi Whingan, representing Lagos State, during plenary on Thursday.
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Whingan told lawmakers that despite continuous budgetary provisions for refinery repairs spanning over two decades, there has been no verifiable evidence of meaningful rehabilitation.
He cited Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, who recently disclosed that over $18 billion had been expended on refinery rehabilitation projects with no tangible result.
“Despite consistent annual allocations, there is no verifiable evidence of substantial rehabilitation outcomes. This represents a gross misuse of public funds and a betrayal of public trust,” Whingan stated.
Background and Previous Approvals
In March 2021, the Federal Government approved $1.5 billion for the Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation. Later, in August 2021, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) sanctioned $1.48 billion for the rehabilitation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries, in three phases lasting 21, 23, and 33 months respectively.
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However, reports indicate that the facilities have remained largely idle. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) claimed in November 2024 that the Port Harcourt refinery had commenced crude processing, but operations were suspended again in May 2025 for maintenance.
The Warri and Kaduna refineries are still undergoing rehabilitation, according to NNPCL.
Calls for Transparency and Accountability
The House directed its relevant committees to investigate all expenditures, identify potential cases of corruption or mismanagement, and recommend sanctions where necessary.
Lawmakers emphasised that the probe aims to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum management systems, especially after the removal of petrol subsidy, which has heightened economic pressures on citizens.
Whingan stressed that the probe must ensure full transparency, given the nation’s dependence on functional refineries for energy stability and economic growth.
In July 2025, Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, hinted that the company was considering selling the refineries due to complications surrounding their rehabilitation.
This statement has since raised public concerns about accountability in the multi-billion-dollar projects.
