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NNPCL-Dangote Refineries rift: HOMEF Demands Transparency, Investigation of Claims on Import of Toxic Fuels
NNPCL-Dangote Refineries rift: HOMEF Demands Transparency, Investigation of Claims on Import of Toxic Fuels
By: Michael Mike
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has demanded transparency and an investigation into allegations of importing and foisting ‘dirty’ fuels on Nigerians.
HOMEF, in a statement on Wednesday, advocated this in reaction to the feud between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refineries, noting that the NNPCL’s inability to refine petroleum products has been an enormous shame and embarrassment to the nation.
The statement said over the decades, NNPCL’s poor performance has forced Nigeria into the vice grip of forces of exploitation of colonial proportions, making her the largest exporter of crude oil and, at the same time, the largest importer of refined products of dubious quality.
Executive Director, HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, in the statement, noted that the company has epitomised one of the worst that can be imagined of any raw material exporter post- colonial state anywhere in the world.
He explained that while HOMEF acknowledges the high ecological costs of the entire petroleum industry value chain, it regrets that the failure of the comatose NNPC refineries is a critical factor that has allowed toxic bush refineries to proliferate to fill the yawning gaps.
Bassey said: “The importation of refined petroleum products has equally foisted heavy economic pressures on the hapless citizens of Nigeria. The arrival of the Dangote Refinery has its own huge ecological baggage, especially regarding the plight of neighboring communities and the general environment. Besides, there are bigger issues related to the creation and operation of what has come to be known as economic zones of exemption.
“HOMEF is alarmed by the cloudy controversies around the Dangote Refinery. The role of the NNPC in the unfolding disputes highlights the opacity of the sector and the inbuilt boobytraps in the regulatory frameworks under which the sector operates. Nigeria entered the oil refining business shortly after independence, with the first refinery built in Port Harcourt to meet domestic needs and curb overreliance on importation.
“The Nigerian government acquired the refinery by successive increase of shareholding starting at 50% in 1965 and increased to 60% in 1972 and taking up sole ownership by 1978. The name also had a systematic shift from the Nigeria Petroleum Refining Company to NNPC Refinery, Port Harcourt.”
Bassey recalled that three other refineries were set up in response to the growing demand for refined products. They are Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, with 125,000 barrels per day (bpd) capacity and commissioned in 1978; Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, with 110,000 bpd capacity, commissioned in 1980; and the New Port Harcourt Refinery with 150,000 bpd capacity commissioned in 1989. The total installed capacity of all four refineries was 445,000 bpd.
He said: “By the early 1990s, the military government at the time ordered the NNPC to close all its accounts and transfer them to the Central Bank of Nigeria. This arguably marked the beginning of the downward spiral in the performance of the refineries that once served the local petroleum needs and the contributory feedstock needs of other dependent industries.
“Successive “democratic” governments continued to fan the embers of this unproductive but self-serving arrangement, solidifying it with Bills that followed and passed by cronies hooded in different cloaks. The sad realities in the sector include poor governance, poor or non-existent turn around maintenance for the refineries, industrial-scale oil theft, and even the appointments to offices for political control as seen in having serving presidents appointing themselves as Ministers of Petroleum.”
Bassey noted that the conundrum of dependency on exporting raw crude oil and importing refined products, along with corrupt subsidy regimes, remains intractable to date.
According to the environmentalist, the Dangote Refinery’s 650,000 bpd capacity could boost Nigeria’s refining capacity and meet its domestic petroleum needs. He said that the news that Nigeria, through the NNPC Ltd, would have a 20% share in the refinery raised questions, including why the corporation could not focus on making its own refineries work.
He said: “Now we hear that the 20% investment stymied at 7.2% due to the inability of the supposedly profit-making company to meet its financial obligations on schedule. Before the recent closed-door meetings between the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Dangote Refineries, there were insinuations and counter-insinuations suggesting an in-fighting. We hear of disputes over the quality of refined products and issues of whether full approvals have been obtained by the private refinery for it to even commence operations.”
Bassey quoted the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as saying: “The refiners failed in operational approaches because there are operational standards for crude oil supply. These standards go along with international best practices. The local refiners will not put payment instruments in place as expected. They were not also revising delayed vessels at the right time. They will not fix the vessel to pick up the crude at the right time, or they will bring the wrong vessel specifications. These are operational inefficiencies on the part of the local refiners.”
Reacting to the situation, Bassey said: “It is time for the NNPC to come clear on the questions over the quality of products imported petroleum products as well as those coming out of the Dangote Refinery. Nigerians also deserve to know what volume of shares it holds in the refinery.
“The public deserves clarity about what is also going on with regard to subsidies on imported petroleum products since the purported elimination of subsidies provided one of the planks aiding the economic strangulation of the Nigerian peoples.”
Bassey also demanded a participatory social and environmental audit of all the country’s refineries and put in place environmental management plans to ensure the safety of fence-line communities in Lekki, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.
Also, HOMEF’s Fossil Politics Programme Manager Stephen Oduware said: “If anything is clear, it is that there are huge transparency questions over the sectoral regulatory frameworks and that the artificially created complexities orchestrated by the NNPCL have heaped an avoidable burden on the masses.”
HOMEF called on the federal government to ensure the operations of all its refineries and equally activate an audit of the unfolding crisis.
“The government should also ensure a depoliticization of the petroleum sector. Another important step will be to ensure that the president of Nigeria does not double as the head of the Petroleum Resources Ministry.”
NNPCL-Dangote Refineries rift: HOMEF Demands Transparency, Investigation of Claims on Import of Toxic Fuels
The late Emir of Ngazargamu is a pillar of peace and unity – VP Shettima.
By: Yahaya Wakili
The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima GCON, has said the late Emir of Ngazargamu, Alhaji Tijjani Ahmed Ibn-Saleh, “was a symbol of unity, peace and progress” even as he urged Nigerians to sustain the unity that exists among them for the progress of the nation.
The Vice President started this in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, while attending the funeral of the late Emir of Ngazargamu, HRH Alhaji Tijjani Ahmed Ibn Saleh, who passed away in Cairo, Egypt, after a prolonged illness.
He noted that citizens, especially the youth, must embrace and continue to seek more education as he preached.
“He led a good life; he was an advocate of education as a tool for social enhancement. He lived well and died honourably. May Almighty Allah grant his soul eternal rest” and also prayed for divine consolation for the family of the deceased and the repose of his soul.
The vice president later extended the condolences of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the federal government to the immediate family of the deceased.
Senator Kashim had earlier attended the Juma’at congregational prayer at the Yobe Islamic Centre, Damaturu, where he was joined by other Muslims faithful to observe the funeral rites for the late emir.
Earlier in his sermon during the Juma’at prayer, the Imam of Yobe Islamic Centre, Ustaz Hudu Mohammed, enjoined Nigerians to always have the fear of God in them, added that since riches come from God, they must always rely on the Almighty for success in life, and also prayed for peace and progress in Nigeria, urging citizens to always pray for their leaders.
Dignitaries who attended the funeral included Governor Mai Mala Buni CON of Yobe State; former Senate President, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan GCON; former vice president, Babagana Kingibe; and Senator Danjuma Goje.
Others include Senator Kaka Shehu, the Shehu of Borno; HRH Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi; the Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa; and the Emir of Tikau, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammadu Ibn Grema II, among others.
The late Emir of Ngazargamu is a pillar of peace and unity – VP Shettima.
NIGERIA HAS CIVIL RULE, NOT DEMOCRACY’ — FALANA
By: Michael Mike
Rights activist rejects military nostalgia, says 27 years of civilian government have failed to deliver democratic dividends
Foremost human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has delivered a scathing verdict on Nigeria’s democratic journey, declaring that despite 27 years of uninterrupted civilian administration, the country is yet to achieve genuine democratic governance.
Falana said what exists in Nigeria today is largely civil rule rather than democracy, arguing that elections alone do not constitute democratic governance when millions of citizens remain trapped in poverty, insecurity, injustice and institutional failure.
Speaking virtually at the Second Annual General Meeting of Amnesty International Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria warned that public confidence in constitutional rule could continue to erode unless democratic institutions begin to deliver tangible benefits to ordinary Nigerians.
While dismissing growing calls in some quarters for a return to military rule, Falana insisted that military governments could never be a better alternative. However, he maintained that Nigerians must confront the uncomfortable reality that the democratic ideals many fought and died for remain largely unrealised.
“Military rule is not better than democracy regardless of the frustrations people may have. But we must also be honest enough to admit that what we currently have is largely civil rule and not the full expression of democracy that Nigerians fought and sacrificed for,” he said.
The outspoken activist argued that the true test of democracy is not the conduct of periodic elections but the capacity of government institutions to guarantee justice, accountability, human rights, security, quality education, healthcare and economic opportunities for citizens.
He lamented that constitutional promises have remained largely theoretical for millions of Nigerians, widening the gulf between democratic expectations and the realities of daily life.
Falana’s remarks come amid increasing public frustration over economic hardship, insecurity, governance challenges and declining trust in public institutions, despite more than two decades of uninterrupted civilian rule.
He warned that democracy risks losing legitimacy in the eyes of citizens if elected governments fail to translate constitutional guarantees into meaningful improvements in people’s lives.
According to him, unless leaders prioritise institutional reforms, accountability and people-centred governance, Nigeria may continue to operate a civilian system devoid of the substantive democratic values that define a truly democratic state.
Earlier in his remarks, the Board Chair, Amnesty International Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani noted that the past year has been one of bold action and significant milestones.
He said: “Our investigation into the Tiger Base anti-kidnapping police unit in Owerri, Imo State, stands as one of our most impactful interventions.”
He noted that: “The report uncovered entrenched human rights violations, including prolonged arbitrary detention, torture, extortion and enforced disappearances.”
Rafsanjani said: “We documented at least 200 deaths and disappearances between 2021 and 2025.”
NIGERIA HAS CIVIL RULE, NOT DEMOCRACY’ — FALANA
Troops Foil ISWAP/JAS Attack on Military Position in Borno, Recover UXOs
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 3 Battalion (Mechanised)/24 Task Force Brigade have successfully repelled an attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources said the attack occurred at about 2:44 a.m. on June 12 when terrorists launched coordinated assaults on the troops’ location from Wurge, Manawaji and Kinuba.
According to the sources, the troops engaged the attackers with superior firepower, supported by reinforcements from battalion headquarters, as well as mortar and artillery fire support, forcing the insurgents to withdraw.
Following the encounter, the fleeing terrorists retreating and scampered into the bushes.
At about 5:45 a.m., troops and auxiliary forces conducted a follow-up exploitation along the withdrawal route towards Wurge, during which three RPG-7 high-explosive unexploded ordnances (UXOs) and two torchlights were recovered.
The sources further disclosed that a main battle tank developed technical faults during the aftermath of the engagement, while one soldier sustained injuries from fragments of an RPG blast.
The wounded personnel was evacuated to the 3 Battalion Regimental Aid Post (RAP) for medical treatment.
Military authorities said clearance and follow-up operations were ongoing in the area to consolidate gains and prevent further terrorist regrouping.
They reaffirmed commitment to sustaining aggressive counter-terrorism operations across the North-East theatre.
Troops Foil ISWAP/JAS Attack on Military Position in Borno, Recover UXOs
The late Emir of Ngazargamu is a pillar of peace and unity – VP Shettima.
NIGERIA HAS CIVIL RULE, NOT DEMOCRACY’ — FALANA
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