By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced the temporary shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State to facilitate a month-long maintenance operation, raising concerns about potential fuel shortages and price hikes nationwide.
In an official statement released on Saturday by NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, the company said the planned shutdown, which began on May 24, is part of a scheduled sustainability and performance enhancement program.
“NNPC Ltd wishes to inform the general public that the Port Harcourt Refining Company will undergo a planned maintenance shutdown,” the statement read. “This scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment will commence on May 24, 2025.”
The oil firm added that the exercise is being carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and other stakeholders to ensure transparency and efficiency.
Despite NNPCL’s reassurances, the announcement has triggered anxiety among fuel retailers and residents in host communities, particularly in Eleme and Okrika, who fear disruptions in fuel supply and a possible rise in pump prices.
“We are worried about the potential shortage of fuel and the attendant price hikes,” a fuel marketer in Eleme said. “We urge the NNPCL to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply during the maintenance period.”
The shutdown comes amid ongoing public scrutiny over the management of funds allocated for the refinery’s rehabilitation, with critics questioning the timing and transparency of the maintenance process.
Nonetheless, NNPCL maintains that the operation is critical to ensuring the long-term viability and optimal functioning of the refinery. The company has pledged to keep the public informed throughout the maintenance exercise.
