Atiku urges Tinubu to accept responsibility for refinery issues
Atiku Abubakar has criticized Bola Tinubu for blaming previous governments for Nigeria’s refinery problems. He argued that the current administration must answer for the billions spent on refineries under its tenure. Atiku pointed to financial records and recent statements from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to support his claims. He insisted that Nigerians deserve clear answers about the use and impact of these funds.
Key takeaways
- Atiku Abubakar accused Bola Tinubu of shifting blame for refinery woes to past administrations, insisting the current government should be accountable for recent spending.
- NNPCL records show combined obligations of Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries rose from about ₦4.52tn in 2023 to ₦8.67tn in 2024, an increase of approximately ₦4.15tn in one year.
- NNPCL CEO Bayo Ojulari stated in February 2026 that the refineries had been operating at a "monumental loss" and were shut down after an internal assessment.
- In November 2024, NNPCL announced the Port Harcourt refinery had resumed processing and was operating at 70% capacity, but later admitted ongoing losses.
- Atiku argued that the government takes credit for successes but blames predecessors for failures, calling for transparency and responsibility over refinery expenditures.
