Years after it went comatose, the Port-Harcourt Refinery rose up from ‘death’, courtesy of the seriousness attached to the all-important plant by its owners, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (NNPCL).

Little did stakeholders anticipate such a milestone could be swiftly achieved, boosting Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity.

After years of delays, maintenance challenges and rising dependency on imported refined petroleum products, the inauguration of the plant promises to be a potential shift in the country’s fuel supply dynamics.

While the government and industry stakeholders have lauded the achievement, the re-establishment of the operation did not go without hydra-headed challenges.

The Port-Harcourt refinery comprises two units, with the old facility capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) and the new plant, 150,000 bpd, both summing up to 210,000 bpd.

The refinery was shut down in March 2019 for the first phase of repair works after the government secured the services of Italy’s Maire Tecnimont, to handle the review of the facility with the oil major Eni as technical adviser.

In 2021, NNPCL announced the commencement of works at the PHRC after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved $1.5 billion for the project.

In December 2023, the government announced the completion of the mechanical and the flare start-off,  one of Nigeria’s oldest and most critical facilities, inaugurated to reduce dependency on foreign refineries.

With the capacity to process over 210,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the refinery is expected to significantly boost local production of petroleum products, including petrol, diesel and kerosene.

In a landmark move, NNPC Ltd. officially began production at the facility, signaling a return to active refining operations after years of dormancy and extensive rehabilitation work.

The christening on Nov. 26, was attended by major stakeholders: government officials and industry experts, all of who expressed optimism about the refinery’s potential to enhance domestic fuel supply and job creation.

While the inauguration is a monumental achievement, the journey to full operational capacity has not been without its noticeable hiccups.

Reports indicate that there are still several operational and logistical challenges facing the refinery, including issues with the supply of crude, infrastructure inadequacies and technical glitches.

Also, there are concerns about the refinery’s ability to operate at full capacity consistently, as its systems have suffered from years of underinvestment.

The prolonged downtime and intermittent operations have raised doubts about whether the refinery can contribute meaningfully to meeting Nigeria’s domestic fuel needs without delay.

Though the refinery’s management has acknowledged some of the identified setbacks, yet, it remains committed to resolving the issues in the short-term to avoid further disruptions.

In spite of the challenges, stakeholders within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector including Dr Ayodele Oni, a Partner at Bloomfield Law Practice, notes the reopening is a positive step towards addressing the nation’s fuel supply crisis.

Oni says the Port-Harcourt’s production is expected to significantly reduce the nation’s dependence on imported fuel, which has long been a source of concern due to the foreign exchange burden and the fluctuations in international oil prices.

According to him, for Nigeria’s local refineries, the Port-Harcourt refinery holds the promise of reducing astronomical price of fuel imports, by ultimately saving the country’s billions of dollars annually.

It is also anticipated to create thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly through the supply chain, from transportation to distribution.

Mr Mike Osatuyi, a former National Operations Controller of the Independent Petroleum marketers Association of Nigeria (lPMAN), says by the inauguration, the refinery is expected to contribute to Nigeria’s energy security by bolstering its refining capacity.

Osatuyi says this shift can pave the way for more refineries to return to full capacity and help Nigeria meet its increasing energy demand.

According to him, the refinery’s operational success could drive the government’s push for improved infrastructure in the downstream oil and gas sector, thereby creating a more self-sufficient and sustainable energy ecosystem.

“Local businesses and citizens stand to benefit from a more stable and reliable supply of fuel, which is crucial for everyday activities and economic growth.

Also, industry observers, according to him, will be quick to predict that an efficient, fully operational Port-Harcourt refinery can lead to reduction in the country’s fuel scarcity which has led to long- queues at filling stations and rising fuel prices.

An energy expert, Mr Salisu Danjuma, explains the corporation’s assignment should not end with the Port Harcourt Refinery alone.

Danjuma notes the corporation has laid out plans to increase its capacity with the completion of the Warri and Kaduna refineries, as well as enhancing the operations of the Port Harcourt plant.

He believes the goal is to make Nigeria a net exporter of refined petroleum products, reducing the country’s dependency on imported fuels while creating a robust energy sector that can support both domestic and international demand.

According to him, while the current phase of the Port Harcourt refinery’s operations is a positive indicator of progress, NNPC Ltd. still faces the task of addressing its operational challenges and ensuring long-term sustainability.

“The government has committed to investing in more capacity expansion and technology upgrades to modernise the country’s refineries.

“The commissioning of the Port Harcourt Refinery is undoubtedly a significant step for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with the potential to reduce the country’s fuel import bill and improve domestic fuel supply.

“While the refinery’s operations face some initial setbacks, the initiative is hailed by stakeholders as a critical move toward enhancing the nation’s energy security, boosting economic growth, and creating employment opportunities.

“Moving forward, the full success of the Port Harcourt Refinery will depend on the NNPC Ltd.’s ability to tackle its current operational challenges, ramp up production and create a stable and efficient refining ecosystem.

“If these obstacles are overcome, Nigeria could see a transformative shift in its energy landscape, reducing its reliance on imports and promoting self-sufficiency,” he added.

Reacting, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu, as well as the collaborative efforts of the NNPCL Board and contractors for the successful hauling of the facility.

Its President, Mr William Akporehe, and General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale, described the commencement of the crude oil processing and the dispatch of petroleum products from the refinery as a landmark achievement that resonates with the aspirations of Nigerian citizens.

The union declared that the achievement demonstrated by NNPCL’s commitment to the country’s sustainable economic growth cannot be over-emphasised.

It commended the Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mele Kyari, for steering PHRC’s rehabilitation to completion, despite numerous challenges.

Nigeria owns four refineries: two in Port Harcourt and one each in Warri and Kaduna; but they have been moribund for years despite the Turn-Around-Maintenance (TAM) efforts.

The moribund state of the local refineries pushed Nigeria to depend solely on the importation of petroleum products for domestic use for several years, constituting a major drain on the nation’s foreign reserves.

For decades, successive administrations moves at reviving the nation’s refineries to reduce dependency on petrol importation failed.

In 2015, former President Muhammadu Buhari pledged to optimise those performing below capacity and boost foreign reserves by halting importation of refined fuel.

In November 2018, that administration scheduled December 2019 as the terminal date for three of the refineries to attain full production capacity to end petroleum importation and later shifted same to 2020.

Though, while the 2020 deadline was not realised, the government had spent N10.23 billion as at June 2020 on three of the refineries which processed zero crude.

By May 2023, the Federal House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the state of refineries in the country made a disclosure that the federal government had spent over N11 trillion on the rehabilitation of the refineries between 2010 to 2023.

Just August 2023, President Bola Tinubu assurance that the PHRC would become functional by December after numerous failed attempts is now a reality.(NAN)

Nigeria’s solid mineral sector, which was once crucial to the nation’s economy, lost that recognition immediately the nation found oil.

But, with the decreasing oil revenue, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is revitalising the solid mineral sector and developing its infrastructure to attract foreign investments.

According to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, the sector is being repositioned as a major driver of the nation’s economic growth.

As the minister strives toward achieving this goal, critical stakeholders in the industry have emphasised the need to sustain the efforts to meet the goal of diversifying the economy.

One such stakeholder, Mr Mikali Mumuni, believes that the sector has the potential to significantly create wealth and numerous employment opportunities.

Mumini, the Managing Director of Miners Communication Limited, publishers of Miner Magazine, says that the sector is “too good to be ignored”.

“Today, it is dawning upon us that we can no longer depend solely on oil because of the vagaries of international oil market.

“It has become obvious that Nigeria is now earning less and less income from oil.

“Apparently, this is the reason why successive governments have been talking of diversifying the nation’s economic base.

“One of the easiest and surest way to do this is to refocus attention on the solid minerals sector.

“The sector has the highest capacity to create multiple employment opportunities for our teeming population, particularly the youth.

“Basically, the solid mineral sector has been long neglected because of the discovery of oil which made some public policy analysts argued that oil made the nation lazy.

“The reality is dawning on the nation that the holiday is over. It is time to face the reality,” he told newsmen recently.

Mr Abidoye Abiosun, Marketing Director of Miners Communication, while corroborating Mumini, identified lithium as one solid mineral that had gained global focus.

“From what I observed, the Nigerian government is prioritising the expansion and development of its lithium resources in the country.

“The idea is to generate power without polluting the environment.

“To the best of my knowledge, lithium is the major focus in the whole world and that is why,  I think, the Nigerian government is really focusing attention on its expansion and development.

“When you are looking at the area of power generation without polluting the air, creating nuisance and ecological hazard, lithium is the safest,” he said.

Abiosun speaks further on the solid mineral.

“Lithium is also the mineral resource crucial to the production of battery used in the generation of solar energy and other similar products.

“With records showing that Nigeria has a very large deposit of lithium, it should be annexed, properly looked into, and tapped so that it would be a ready-made replacement and alternative to oil.

“Lithium is a versatile element with various applications. Lithium-ion batteries power electric vehicles, mobile devices and renewable energy systems.

“This is due to their high energy density and long lifespan.

“Lithium carbonate is used as a medication to treat bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders.

“Lithium is also used in nuclear reactors as a neutron absorber and in nuclear fusion research.

“Lithium oxide is used to produce specialised glass and ceramics with unique properties. Lithium-based lubricants are used in industrial applications due to their high performance and resistance to extreme temperatures.

“It has long been established that lithium-ion batteries have a high energy-to-weight ratio, making them ideal for portable electronics and electric vehicles.

“This is just as lithium-ion batteries can be charged and discharged many times without losing capacity.

“Lithium carbonate also helps stabilise mood and reduce symptoms of mental health conditions.

“Lithium’s ability to absorb neutrons makes it useful in nuclear applications.

“Lithium-based materials have high thermal resistance, making them suitable for extreme temperature applications,” he explained.

Expectedly, stakeholders have lauded government’s efforts in taking steps to reactivate mining licences and address security concerns so as to make the sector more attractive to investors.

They note that Alake has launched the mineral resources database through which anybody that is interested in investing in solid minerals could access information on which part of the country he or she could get a particular mineral or the other.

The minister said recently that investors could express interest where such lies.

The government has also created the Mining Marshall to make the different mining sites safer for investors as well as miners.

Just recently, President Bola Tinubu gave a matching order to the armed forces to redouble their efforts at curbing illegal mining.

“This, to me, is a great assurance to investors in the mining sector,” Mumuni said.

For Abiosun, the renewed interest on the mineral resources sector by Alake and the Federal Government is commendable and must be supported.

“I think it is a very good step in the right direction,” Abiosun says.

Analysts have, however, said that there is the need to review mining licences as many had been issued but not activated.

“If the government is looking at generating employment through solid mineral and mineral resources in the country, all the mining licence that have been given out, need to be activated.

“Serious investors need to invest in the sector, start action and, at the end of the day, the unemployment rate in the country would have decreased.

“We look at majority of our youths that are at home unemployed; they will have areas in which they can be useful at the mining sites and other activities that are associated with mining in the country.

“I think the Federal Government is taking the right step in the right direction,” Abiosun says.

Stakeholders have also emphasised the need for specialised media coverage to promote and support the growth of the sector.

Mumini emphasises this.

“As journalists, it is our duty to ensure that we do not lower the bar of reportage of the sector.

“This is what forced some of us to come up with the idea of the Miners Communication outfit under which we currently have a monthly news magazine solely devoted to reporting the solid mineral sector.

“It is the only magazine that is doing that in the country. We have taken the lead and we are determined to consistently do this by highlighting the diverse and vast opportunities that abound in the sector,” Mumuni says.

Abiosun notes further: “This is an aspect of journalism that has not been looked into.

“The area is a growing sector and it is a genre that we need to encourage just the way the Nigerian government is trying to encourage the mineral resources industry.” (NANFeatures)

Shortly after assuming office as FCT minister on Aug. 21, 2023, Mr Nyesom Wike announced short, medium, and long-term plans to restore the Abuja Master Plan.

Wike, along with FCT minister of state Mariya Mahmoud, explained that overhauling the FCT would reposition it to be among the best cities in the world in line with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.

He added that emphasis would be placed on infrastructural development, taking one project at a time, to restore the city to its glory.

The minister said that development would also be extended to the six Area Councils as part of strategies to decongest the city and open rural economy.

Sadly, Wike was confronted with the sight of abandoned projects that characterised the capital city.

The minister noted that FCT had, over the years, witnessed foundation laying ceremonies of several structures worth billions, only to be abandoned midway or at advanced stages of the construction.

While assessing them, he pointed out that some of the contracts were awarded in 2007, some in 2011, while others were awarded between 2015 and 2017, with all abandoned.

Confronting the challenge, Wike said that revenue leakages would be blocked so as to mobilise the needed resources for infrastructural development in the FCT.

“I will ensure that Abuja gets the best. You will see projects upon projects, and projects that will be completed and not abandoned.

“I am not a party to abandoned projects. I start a project when there is money as such we will look into our finances before we begin any project,” the minister had said.

Innovatively, Wike got most of the contractors back to site after agreeing on a payment plan with money from the FCT Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and 2023 Supplementary Budget.

To improve IGR, the minister inaugurated a Task Force on the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy for mass housing developments and the recovery of land use contravention fees in the FCT.

He equally introduced innovations and enforced the payment of outstanding ground rents and other taxes in the FCT, a decision that increased the territory’s revenue generation significantly.

This is evident with the recent declaration of N126.54 billion collected and remitted between January and June by the FCT Internal Revenue Service.

The then acting Executive Chairman of the service, Mr Haruna Abdullahi, said that the figure was 53.5 per cent higher than the N82.46 billion collected in the first half of 2023.

The minister also secured the approval of Tinubu to withdraw FCTA from Treasury Single Account, to enable the administration to access funds from financial institutions to fund projects.

These initiatives paid off, as nine months later, the Wike-led FCTA announced the completion of numerous projects which were inaugurated in May to celebrate Tinubu’s one year in office.

Some of the projects included the official residence of the Vice President, the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system, Inner Southern Expressway from the Outer Southern Expressway to the Southern Parkway.

Others are full scope development of about 6.7km of 10 lanes Outer Southern Expressway from Villa Roundabout to Ring Road 1 Junction, and construction of Southern Parkway from the Christian Centre to Ring Road 1, named after President Bola Tinubu.

Equally inaugurated were the completed B6 (Constitution Avenue)/B12 (Independence Avenue) roads in Central Area, and Wuye interchange bridge.

The full scope development of the Arterial Road, N-20, from Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Expressway to Murtala Mohammed Expressway, was also partly completed and named after noble laurel Wole Soyinka.

Another milestone of the Wike-led FCTA was the completion of engineering infrastructure in Guzape District Lot II, and the resurfacing of 189 roads covering 57km within Abuja city centre among others.

He assured that other ongoing projects would be completed by December 2024, including the rehabilitation and resurfacing of 366 roads in Wuse, Garki, Asokoro and Maitama Districts, covering 117 km.

Also ongoing are the rehabilitation of District Hospital Gwarimpa, Cottage Hospital Gwagwalada and District Hospital Utako, Greater Abuja Water Supply Project and rehabilitation of 19 public primary and secondary schools across the territory.

The minister also recently inaugurated the construction of three bus terminals in the FCT to ensure a secure and convenient travel experience for commuters in the FCT.

He also inaugurated the construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal Complex to strengthen the administration of justice.

Road users and residents described the feat as unprecedented, saying that Wike was the best thing that had happened to FCT.

“I have been living in Abuja for 16 years but never witnessed a speedy delivery of road projects until Wike happened.

“Look at the road to Asokoro from Apo, which was under construction for several years, but Wike delivered it in just eight months,” said a resident, Mr Andrew Moses.

Similarly, Mr Shuabu Yunusa, a taxi driver said, “It is now seamless going to Asokoro from Apo. The Tinubu-led administration is really working and deserved our commendation.”

In keeping to his promise not to leave rural communities behind in the development agenda, the minister has inaugurated the construction of rural roads of more than 42.2km across the six Area Councils and promised to complete them by December.

Similarly, the minister has also handed over Staff of Office to four newly coronated Chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai, and Yaba, as part of measures to strengthen traditional institutions and improve governance in communities.

According to him, the traditional rulers are expected to draw the attention of the government to any development, security and other issues that require government attention and response.

Beyond infrastructural development, stakeholders said that Wike has carved his name in gold by ensuring the implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC), 2018, against all odds.

The minister, on Oct. 13, 2023, announced President Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of CSC for the FCTA, in line with the provisions of the law.

This, he said, was to allow career progression for civil servants in the Administration, from director to permanent secretary and, hopefully, Head of Civil Service.

On March 12, Wike announced Tinubu’s approval for the appointment of Mr Udo Atang, as pioneer Head of Civil Service of the FCTA.

Mr Emeka Ezeh was also appointed Chairman of the Commission’s Board, along with six others as commissioners, representing the six geopolitical zones.

Similarly, 10 other directors in the FCTA were appointed as pioneer Permanent Secretaries for various Secretariats of the Administration.

The excited pioneer head of FCT civil service, described the development as a demonstration of the reality of the renewed hope agenda of the Tinubu-led government.

Commending Tinubu and Wike for renewing the hope of FCT workers, Atang said: “the staff of the Administration have never had it this good.

“In the new FCTA system, every member of staff is a potential permanent secretary and head of service.”

To ensure gender equality, as well as women and youth participation in governance, Wike, within one year in office, has created Women Affairs Secretariat and Youth Development Secretariat.

This has increased the number of secretariats in the FCTA from eight to 10 with a view to ensure inclusive governance.

On security, the Wike-led FCTA has supported security agencies, including vigilante groups, with motorcycles and operational vehicles, fitted with modern communication gadgets.

This, according to him, is to enable security agencies to navigate hard-to-reach communities in rural areas and improve security operations within the city.

Wike equally inaugurated a Joint Task Force, consisting of all security agencies in the FCT, to curb the menace of “one chance” and another to curtail the activities of arm rubbers, kidnappers and all forms of crimes within the FCT and its environment.

While assessing the performance of the Wike-led FCTA on security, Mr Adamu Gwary, Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, argued that the impact was impressive, considering the reduced incidents of security breaches.

Sharing Gwary’s view, Prof. Kailani Muhammed, Director-General of the Confederation of All Progressives Congress said that FCT had become a safe haven where residents could afford to sleep with their two eyes closed.

Despite the laudable feats within one year in office, stakeholders have stressed the need to invest more on people-oriented projects such as provision of clean water, quality health services and transportation system.

This, according to them, will impact significantly on the lives of the common residents of the FCT. (NANFeatures)