Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate suspension and public scrutiny of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC Ltd.) newly announced refinery partnership deal involving two Chinese firms.
The former presidential candidate raised concerns over the transparency, technical credibility, and long-term implications of the agreement tied to the rehabilitation and operation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
The NNPC recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd. under what it described as a “Technical Equity Partnership” arrangement aimed at supporting the completion and operation of the refineries.
Reacting to the development, Atiku described the deal as “another dangerous gamble” with Nigeria’s economic future.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president accused the Federal Government of attempting to mortgage strategic national assets through opaque agreements lacking adequate accountability.
According to him, the government must immediately halt the partnership pending full public disclosure of the agreement terms and an independent review of the companies involved.
“It is both shocking and insulting that after wasting over $2.5 billion on endless refinery rehabilitation scandals, the NNPC is once again asking Nigerians to trust another experiment built on secrecy and questionable competence,” Atiku stated.
The former vice president questioned the technical capacity of the Chinese firms selected for the project.
He argued that available corporate records do not show evidence that either company possesses substantial experience managing large-scale crude oil refineries comparable to the Port Harcourt and Warri facilities.
Atiku specifically claimed that Sanjiang Chemical primarily focuses on petrochemical processing rather than full-scale crude oil refinery operations.
He also alleged that there was limited publicly available evidence showing that Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd. has significant experience in refinery engineering or hydrocarbon processing.
The criticism adds to ongoing debates surrounding Nigeria’s repeated refinery rehabilitation efforts and the billions of dollars spent over the years attempting to revive state-owned refining facilities.
The Port Harcourt and Warri refineries have faced operational setbacks, shutdowns, and repeated turnaround maintenance projects despite significant government investments.
Industry analysts note that Nigeria has spent billions of dollars on refinery rehabilitation projects over the past decade while still depending heavily on imported petroleum products.
The latest partnership with Chinese firms was announced as part of NNPC’s renewed strategy to restore refining capacity and improve domestic fuel supply.
However, critics argue that continued rehabilitation without sustainable operational results has raised serious questions about transparency, efficiency, and financial prudence.
Atiku also demanded legislative scrutiny of previous refinery rehabilitation expenditures and called on Nigerians to resist what he described as secretive arrangements involving national assets.
The development comes amid broader conversations about energy security, fuel supply stability, and the future of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.
Political observers say the issue may become another major talking point in the country’s evolving economic and political debates ahead of the 2027 elections.
So far, the NNPC has not publicly responded to Atiku’s latest demands regarding the suspension of the deal.
Nonetheless, the controversy has intensified public attention on Nigeria’s refinery sector and renewed scrutiny over the management of strategic energy infrastructure.