…Demand Immediate Removal Of Bayo Aderenle, Refinery Coordinator
…Insist 30 Days Timeline Not Exceeded
By Eric Moore
THE communities hosting the Port Harcourt Refinery, which are Eleme and Okrika in Rivers State, have criticized the shutting down of the refinery for 30 days maintenance by federal government, alleging that it was orchestrated for monopoly by a private refinery.
Executive members of Host Community Bulk Petroleum Retailers Association of Port Harcourt Refinery, in a media briefing in Port Harcourt yesterday, insisted that the 30 days timeline for maintenance of refinery must not be exceeded.
The group, which commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to revamping Nigeria’s neglected refineries, demanded for immediate removal of Bayo Aderenle, accusing him of sabotaging the efforts of the president’s reform agenda.
Also, the group requested for consistent crude oil supply to the Port Harcourt refinery, pledging to monitor allocation and distribution to prevent disruptions, given plans to potentially deny crude oil allocation and sell abroad.
They warned that there could be potential artificial scarcity of products, if federal government fails to complete the repair work within the stipulated period.
Chairman of Board of Trustees (BOT) of Host Community Bulk Petroleum Retailers of Port Harcourt Refinery, Chief Sunny Nkpe, who read out the seven-point position of the group, advocated for appointment of a substantive managing director of the refinery with expertise in refinery operations to drive efficiency and facilitate the remaining revamping stage.
Chief Nkpe emphasized on the need for federal government and relevant authority to adhere to the 30 days repair timeline and expect regular progress update from contractors.
He stated: “As we speak to you as an insider, nothing is happening in the refinery.
“So, we are requesting that the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, to as a matter of urgency, appoint a new managing director to the refinery, so that the rehabilitation can continue and set goals can be achieved.”
“Shutting down the refinery is something we are fearing that may be permanent. If this refinery is shutdown for 30 days, it would tremendously affect the market price and Nigerians will suffer.
“We will not fold hands as host communities and watch people with vested interests to put our people and Nigerians into more hardship. Bayo Aderenle (Refinery Coordinator) is the problem and he should be removed.
The communities expressed confidence in Tecnimont, the major company handing the maintenance job and asked for sufficient funding and timely disbursement for speedy project completion.
On their parts, other executive members of the group including the Administrative Secretary of the BOT, Joseph Obele, Administrative Chairman of BOT and current Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Port Harcourt branch, Tekena Ikpaiki and Emmanuel Inimgba, who is also BOT Secretary, expressed fears that the shutting down could be a plot to monopolize the petroleum industry.
They warned that the 30 days repair timeline must be strictly adhered to, to avert perceived hike in price of the petroleum products.
Obele, who is also the National Public Relations Officer of Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), stated: “What we are doing here today is no way a personal interest, but a general interest to the people of Nigeria. We fear that the recent shutdown of the old Port Harcourt Refinery could be an orchestrated way to give a monopoly to a particular refinery.
“Recall, as at June last year, PMS was selling at N1,300 per litre, then in October/November, when the old Port Harcourt refinery came up, it came down to about N800-N900.
“Nigerians should understand that this recent shutdown could be an orchestrated way to give a monopoly to a particular private refinery; and if that happens, Nigerians will buy fuel close to N2000 per litre.”
Similarly, Ikpaiki, IPMAN branch chairman, expressed: “It is imperative that I am a part of this call, knowing fully that any shutdown of the refinery brings about scarcity in the town and by extension across the nation.
“We know that in the refinery, there is a reserve. But, if this reserve has been depleted, on what product would the nation leverage on? So, we all came out today, to say if they said it is 30 days maintenance, they should try to stay within the date limit, because beyond this time there may be artificial scarcity in town that will affect the marketers and the entire nation at large.”
They, however, commended Mr. Ibrahim Onoja’s team for their dedication and hardwork in revamping the refinery and Mr. Hubb Stockman’s community initiatives at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Retail Limited, Managing Director and his team for fostering relationships with host community bulk retailers.
The Eleme and Okrika, which are two different local government areas, warned that they would not fold hands and watch individuals with vested interests to truncate their development.