Civil society organisations under the umbrella of the Civic Centre for Independent Forensic Activists have called for the resignation of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, over growing concerns surrounding refinery rehabilitation spending and a fresh Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Chinese firms.
The group stated that the continued lack of transparency over billions of dollars spent on Nigeria's refineries, alongside the new foreign partnership, has further weakened public trust in the national oil company.
Fresh Questions Over $3.5 Billion Refinery Spending
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Executive Director, Edward Abakpa, the organisation said more than $3.5 billion had reportedly been spent on the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries without delivering consistent and sustainable operations. According to the group, Nigerians are still waiting for a full public account of how the huge funds were used, what projects were completed, and why the facilities remain largely underperforming despite repeated government assurances.
Abakpa argued that before entering into any fresh agreements, the NNPCL must first provide detailed answers on previous spending. He said, "The central issue is accountability. Before entering into fresh arrangements, Nigerians deserve a detailed explanation of how over $3.5 billion previously committed to refinery rehabilitation was utilised, what work was actually completed, and why the refineries remain largely non-functional."
New Chinese MoU Raises Fresh Concerns
The controversy intensified after NNPCL signed a new MoU with Chinese firms, Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng Industrial Park Operation and Management Company Limited. The agreement reportedly covers refinery rehabilitation, operations, maintenance, and the possible expansion of refinery-linked infrastructure. However, civil society groups fear the deal could significantly alter control and management structures within Nigeria's downstream petroleum sector without sufficient public disclosure.
They warned that without clear details on investment commitments, technical equity arrangements, and the scope of foreign participation, the new deal risks repeating the failures of previous refinery rehabilitation programmes.
Call for National Assembly Probe
The group also raised concerns over how the Chinese firms were selected and questioned the long-term implications of the arrangement for Nigeria's energy sovereignty. It called on the National Assembly to immediately begin a public investigation into all refinery rehabilitation contracts awarded since 2015, including contractor performance, disbursement records, project outcomes, and funding sources. The organisation also urged anti-corruption agencies to examine possible procurement breaches and financial leakages linked to refinery rehabilitation projects.
Abakpa said the repeated pattern of huge spending followed by limited operational results reflects a deeper governance crisis within the oil sector. "It is unacceptable that after spending more than $3.5 billion on refinery rehabilitation over several phases, there is still no clear, commercially viable output from these facilities," he said.
Demand for Leadership Change
The civic group insisted that restoring confidence in Nigeria's oil sector requires both transparency and stronger leadership. It maintained that without a proper audit of past spending, every new refinery agreement would continue to attract suspicion from the public. "We cannot build new partnerships on a foundation of unresolved questions. Until Nigerians are told exactly what happened to the $3.5 billion already spent, every new deal will be viewed with suspicion," Abakpa added.
The organisation concluded by renewing its call for Ojulari's resignation, arguing that accountability must begin at the top if Nigeria hopes to rebuild trust in its refinery system and strengthen long-term energy security.
