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NNPC exposed as Warri refinery shutdown drags on, P/Harcourt struggles
Industry operators and experts described this as disheartening, while further findings showed that the Port Harcourt Refining Company, which resumed operations in November 2024, has been operating below 40 per cent capacity.
The 125,000 barrels per day capacity Warri refinery, which had been moribund for decades due to technical issues, was brought back to life by the national oil company on December 30, 2024.
Situated in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji areas of Warri, the petrochemical plant has an annual production capacity of 13,000 metric tonnes of polypropylene and 18,000 metric tonnes of carbon black.
Commissioned in 1978, the WRPC is operated by the NNPC and was established to cater to the markets in Nigeria’s southern and southwestern regions.
President Bola Tinubu had commended the NNPCL for completing the refurbishment of the 125,000-bpd capacity Warri refinery, which reportedly kicked off operations at 60 per cent capacity.
It is focused on producing and storing critical products, including Straight Run Kerosene, Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and heavy and light Naphtha.
Briefing his team before the tour following the revitalisation, Kyari had said many Nigerians doubt such projects were real or possible in the country, but insisted the revitalisation was genuine and visible.
Kyari said, “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100 per cent complete, we are still in the process. Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.
“I must congratulate our team for their determination and extreme belief that this company can restart this plant. This has brought the result we are seeing in collaboration with our contractors. We have proved that it is possible to restart a plant that you deliberately shut down. We have proved this.”
However, the document obtained exclusively from the NMDPRA, providing detailed production data for each refinery in the country, revealed that the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, with an installed capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, has remained shut since January 25, 2025.
The report linked the shutdown to critical faults in the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit Main Heater, which raised safety concerns and forced a complete halt in operations.
“The Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company was shut down on 25th Jan. 2025 due to safety concerns over the CDU Main Heater,” the document stated.
It further stated that the Port Harcourt refinery, with a nameplate capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, has been operating at just 37.87 per cent of its installed capacity six months after its long-awaited revitalisation.
The refinery’s monthly production data showed that it produced a monthly average of 82.55 million litres of refined petroleum products between November 2024 and April 2025, 135.45ML less than its estimated optimal production of 218 million litres per month.
The latest development also contradicts claims by the NNPCL spokesperson, Femi Soneye, that the Port Harcourt refinery recommissioned on November 26, 2024, was operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans to increase output to 90 per cent in subsequent months.
The refinery’s output consists of Premium Motor Spirit blending components, including Straight-Run Gasoline and Straight-Run Naphtha, as well as Automotive Gas Oil (diesel). The plant, equipped with a Hydrocracker Unit, produced high-value fuels such as jet fuel, Household Kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, and naphtha.
At its recommissioning, the state-owned firm stated that the Port Harcourt refinery would produce daily outputs of 1.4 million litres of Straight-Run Gasoline blended into Premium Motor Spirit, 900,000 liters of Kerosene, 1.5 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 2.1 million litres of Low Pour Fuel Oil, and additional volumes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
The $1.5bn rehabilitation project, funded through a loan facility backed by international financial institutions, was projected to restore the state-owned facility to full operational status after years of dormancy and seven postponements.
Recall that several deadlines for the commencement of fuel production at the Port Harcourt refinery, with the latest failure occurring in September 2024, from its earlier target of December 2023.
During the unveiling, NNPC officials embarked on a tour around the facility where they took samples of petrol, diesel, and kerosene. It was stated that about 200 trucks of petrol would be released into the Nigerian market daily.
Similarly, President Tinubu, in celebrating the restart, stated that it would contribute to achieving energy sufficiency, enhancing energy security, and boosting Nigeria’s export capacity.
“In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda focused on shared economic prosperity for all, the President reaffirms his administration’s commitment to achieving energy sufficiency, enhancing energy security, and boosting export capacity for Nigeria,” a statement by the presidency noted.
Recently, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria commended the NNPCL for successfully running the revamped Port Harcourt Refinery for 180 days non-stop. The association, in a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Dr Joseph Obele, said the refinery had been dormant for over 20 years.
He said its members were loading diesel and Dual Purpose Kerosene from the refinery, while NNPC Ltd. retail marketers were loading PMS.
Obele said, “It was commissioned in October 2024 and has been running continuously for 180 days, up to March 2025; it is a remarkable feat that underscores the effectiveness of the rehabilitation project.”
But the new document highlighting the refinery’s true state said the facility didn’t exceed 42.23 per cent of its operational capacity within the six-month period. It disclosed that the facility produced more diesel than PMS blending components of Straight-Run Gasoline and Straight-Run Naphtha.
The total production figure was derived from the cumulative output of various refined petroleum products, including the blending components for PMS, AGO, and HKK products. According to oil and gas experts, one barrel of crude, when heated and refined, can produce 159 litres of refined products.
A detailed breakdown revealed that in November, the refinery produced 9.51 million litres, significantly below its operational capacity of 38.16 million litres. This represents a meagre 24.92 per cent utilisation, with a shortfall of 28.65 million litres.
In December, the refinery saw a remarkable increase in production, rising by 1,044 per cent to 108 million litres. However, this output still fell short of the expected monthly production of 286.20 million litres, utilising just 38.01 per cent of its capacity and leaving a substantial shortfall of 177.41 million litres.
In January, the refinery produced 120.91 million litres of refined products, representing just 42.2 per cent of its full 286.20 million-litre capacity, according to production data.
This was followed by a slight decline in February, where 111.81 million litres were produced, equating to 39.1 per cent of the refinery’s total capacity. In March, production further decreased to 100.03 million litres, which accounted for 35 per cent of the expected output for the month.
In the first 13 days of April, the refinery produced 44.24 million litres, amounting to 35.7 per cent of the projected capacity of 124.02 million litres for the month.
A detailed product-by-product analysis of the refinery’s output reveals significant fluctuations in production across various categories. In November, the refinery produced 4.38 million litres of PMS, which surged to 40.32 million litres in December, and continued increasing in January with 41.76 million litres.
However, production dropped to 39.34 million litres in February and 34.21 million litres in March, before falling further to 15.22 million litres in the first 13 days of April.
For AGO, commonly known as diesel, the refinery produced 3.49 million litres in November, with a sharp increase to 40.72 million litres in December. The output then peaked at 55.10 million litres in January, followed by slight decreases to 47.33 million litres in February, 45.38 million litres in March, and 18.96 million litres in the first half of April.
HKK production saw more modest but still notable variations, with 1.64 million litres in November, rising sharply to 27.75 million litres in December. This was followed by a dip to 24.05 million litres in February and 25.14 million litres in March, before declining further to 10.06 million litres in April. This data highlights the refinery’s erratic production pattern across key petroleum products, underlining ongoing challenges in meeting expected outputs and operational efficiency.
The daily average data showed that in November, the facility trucked out an average of 238,080 litres of PMS per day, which spiked to 538,600 litres per day in December. However, the output dropped in January, with a daily average of 275,630 litres of PMS and 347,380 litres of diesel. In February, the refinery produced 85,480 litres of PMS and 639,240 litres of diesel on average per day, marking another dip in PMS production.
Remarkably, the refinery recorded zero litres of PMS evacuation in both March and April, underscoring a significant shortfall. In contrast, diesel production increased sharply, with a daily average of 865,110 litres in March and 968,460 litres in the first half of April.
On its part, the Warri refinery, which has remained shut for four months, produced 1.96ml of AGO, 2.84ml of HKK in December and 10ml of AGO and 12ml of HKK in January 2025.
When contacted the NNPCL spokesperson declined to comment on the issue. Questions sent to his WhatsApp line were not answered. But Soneye, in a statement released in February, had admitted that the facility was undergoing a planned routine maintenance programme aimed at ensuring optimal operations.
According to him, operations at WRPC were halted to carry out repairs for efficient service delivery. He added that routine maintenance was progressing and operations would be back in the next few days.
The statement read, “NNPC Ltd wishes to clarify that there was no explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company. Any reports suggesting otherwise are completely false.
“On January 25, 2025, operations at WRPC Area 1 were intentionally curtailed to carry out necessary intervention works on select equipment, including field instruments that were impacting sustainable and steady operations.
“These intervention works are essential to ensure the production of specification finished and intermediate products, particularly Automotive Gas Oil and Kerosene. The routine maintenance is progressing as planned, and 1 will be back in operation within the next few days.”
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The perennial flooding in Awka, the Anambra State capital, may soon be brought under control following the commencement of flood control measures by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA).
The Authority has commenced the dredging of the Obibia Stream as part of efforts to improve the flow of floodwater and reduce flooding on major roads and streets within the capital territory.
During the rainy season, Zik’s Avenue, one of the major roads in Awka, is frequently affected by flooding, with water reportedly submerging buildings and disrupting commercial activities and vehicular movement, particularly around Eke Awka Main Market.
The ACTDA management has also commenced the desilting of drains and flood channels across the capital territory to ensure the free flow of water during heavy rainfall.
Speaking on the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ACTDA, Ozo Ossy Onuko, attributed the recurring flooding to the blockage of drainage systems, largely caused by human activities.
Onuko said the desilting of drains would remain a continuous exercise, adding that the Authority would periodically clear the drainage channels to improve water flow.
“What we must understand is that the flood is as a result of the drainage that has been blocked, and this is due to human activities. When you go to Eke Awka Market, most of the water channels are affected, but we shall continue to carry out the desilting of those drainages for water to flow easily,” he said.
He further disclosed that the Obibia Stream was being dredged to facilitate the easy flow of floodwater.
“As you also know, we have commenced the dredging of the Obibia Stream, which is part of efforts by government towards putting an end to the perennial flooding in the Capital City,” Onuko stated.
The ACTDA boss also observed that some of the drainage channels constructed in Awka in the past were not deep or wide enough to accommodate the volume of water generated during heavy rainfall.
According to him, the situation is further worsened when residents block the drainage channels with refuse and other materials.
He said the Authority was mobilising and sensitising market organisations and village associations to support government efforts in tackling flooding within the capital territory.
“Government is surely playing its role in that regard, but it is also the duty of residents of the Capital City to clear their gutters and ensure that garbage is not dumped inside the drainages,” he said.
Onuko expressed optimism that the measures being implemented would significantly reduce the flooding problem in Awka, while urging residents to support the government’s efforts.
“With what we are doing so far, the challenges of flooding would soon be a thing of the past, and we urge all and sundry to be part of this move because natural disasters know no bounds,” he stated.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Attorney-General of Anambra State, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has initiated steps to prosecute persons who deny women and girls their right to inherit property on the basis of their gender.
Nweke has consequently directed the Nigeria Police Force to investigate complaints of gender-based disinheritance and transmit the relevant case files to his office for prosecution.
This was contained in a letter personally signed by the Attorney-General and made available to newsmen on Monday, September 28, 2026.
The letter stated that the practice of denying women and girls the right to inherit property because they are female constitutes a criminal offence under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017 of Anambra State, and is punishable by up to four years’ imprisonment.
In the letter addressed to the police, Nweke said:
“In light of the foregoing, you are kindly requested to ensure that your office thoroughly investigates all reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and that the case files are transmitted to this Ministry for further action.”
He further disclosed that the Ministry had designated its Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit to prosecute offenders under the law.
According to him, the unit would handle such cases alongside other forms of domestic violence and sexual offences.
The Attorney-General noted that despite several Supreme Court decisions declaring customs and practices that exclude females from inheriting property unconstitutional and illegal, some members of the public still engage in such discriminatory practices.
He said the state government was determined to enforce the law and ensure that women and girls were protected from discriminatory inheritance practices.
…Says Ogbuekwe’s Victory a Mandate of Trust, Hope in APC
The Mmiri-Oma Campaign Organisation, which coordinated the electioneering campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate for Nkanu East Local Government Area, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe, has expressed profound appreciation to the people of the council for what it described as their “overwhelming support, trust and confidence” throughout the election campaign.
Ogbuekwe was declared the winner of the Nkanu East chairmanship election conducted on September 26, 2026, bringing to a close weeks of campaign activities, consultations and community engagements across the local government.
In a statement jointly signed by the Director-General of the Mmiri-Oma Campaign Organisation, Prince Chukwuemeka Nwatu, and its Spokesperson, Barr. Joshua Ejeh, and issued on Monday, the organisation thanked the people of Nkanu East for turning out in large numbers throughout the campaign period and ultimately giving their mandate to the APC candidate.
The organisation described the people’s reception of the campaign train across the communities as deeply touching, saying the warmth, solidarity and encouragement received at the grassroots remained one of the defining features of the campaign.
It recalled the extensive ward-to-ward engagements during which the campaign team visited communities, interacted with traditional and community leaders, youths, women and other stakeholders, describing the reception across Nkanu East as a powerful demonstration of grassroots participation.
The organisation particularly recalled instances where residents turned out despite challenging weather conditions to receive the campaign team, including engagements in Nara, Ugbakwa, Owo, Nomeh, Mburubu and Nkerefi, where reports documented significant community participation during the campaign.
According to the statement, the Mmiri-Oma movement was not merely received as a political campaign but as a movement that connected with the aspirations and expectations of ordinary people across the council area.
“We are deeply grateful to the people of Nkanu East. You opened your communities to us, listened to our message, travelled with us, stood with us and ultimately entrusted us with your mandate,” the organisation said.
The campaign body said the mandate given to Ogbuekwe by the electorate carried a profound responsibility, stressing that the confidence of the people must now be repaid through service, accountability and meaningful development.
It assured the people that the incoming administration would remain conscious of the fact that the election was not the destination but the beginning of a new responsibility to serve.
The organisation further expressed confidence in Ogbuekwe’s capacity to translate the mandate into practical dividends of democracy, saying his campaign engagements had demonstrated a commitment to listening to communities and understanding their development priorities.
It called on all citizens, irrespective of political affiliation, to join hands with the incoming administration in building a stronger, more united and prosperous Nkanu East.
“Now that the election is over, the work begins. The campaign has ended, but the responsibility to build Nkanu East has only started,” the statement added.
The Mmiri-Oma Campaign Organisation also pledged its continued commitment to the ideals of unity, grassroots participation and inclusive development that characterised the campaign, while urging the people to remain united behind the development of the council area.
It thanked the traditional rulers, community leaders, women, youths, professionals, political stakeholders and supporters who contributed to the success of the campaign.
The organisation equally expressed appreciation to the state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, the leadership of the APC and all individuals and groups that worked tirelessly throughout the electioneering period to ensure victory.
The campaign council said the overwhelming support received had strengthened its belief that the people of Nkanu East were ready for a new chapter defined by service, inclusion, development and collective progress.
It therefore called on the people to see the emergence of Ogbuekwe not merely as the conclusion of a political contest, but as an opportunity to forge a common front for the advancement of every community across Nkanu East.
“The people have spoken. The mandate has been given. This shows continued trust and hope in the APC. Now is the time to unite, build and deliver. Together, we move Nkanu East forward,” it added.
Nollywood actor Ricardo Agbor has survived a car crash in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The actor disclosed the incident on Saturday in a video shared on his Instagram page, showing his badly damaged Lexus SUV at the scene of the accident.
The silver vehicle suffered extensive damage to its front section, including a crushed bonnet, smashed grille, exposed engine components and a damaged front-left tyre.
In the video, Agbor identified the location of the accident as being in front of the
Cornerstone City billboard in Ibadan.
“This is my vehicle in front of Cornerstone City, Ibadan,” the actor said.
Appearing shaken by the incident, Agbor repeatedly thanked God for sparing his life.
“Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.
He later added, “This is what just happened to me now. Oh God.”
In an accompanying post, the actor wrote, “As I was saying… Thank God Almighty I made it out of this. Thank you Lord Jesus Christ.”
There was no immediate information on whether the actor or any other person sustained injuries in the crash.
Ricardo Agbor, also known as Rykardo Agbor, was born on February 4, 1973, in Lagos State and hails from Delta State.
He studied Mass Communication at the University of Ibadan and began his acting career in 1992 after working as a model.
Agbor gained prominence following his appearance in the movie Visa to Hell and has since featured in numerous Nollywood productions in both English and Yoruba.
His acting career spans more than three decades.
Air Peace has reacted to a viral video showing passengers struggling to board one of its aircraft at the Abuja airport.
The video, which has sparked reactions on social media, showed passengers pushing and scrambling to board an Air Peace flight, with airline and airport officials appearing overwhelmed by the crowd.
However, Air Peace said the incident occurred on December 20, 2024, amid flight delays caused by poor weather conditions.
The airline’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, said harmattan-induced haze and fog had significantly reduced visibility and disrupted flight operations nationwide.
According to him, Air Peace deployed three aircraft to Abuja to evacuate affected passengers and minimise disruptions caused by the delays.
He explained that while passengers were being processed at the boarding gate, the crowd became overwhelming, with some passengers rushing towards the airside.
Ndiulo said officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and boarding officers were overwhelmed by the situation, forcing duty managers and ramp officials to mount barricades around the aircraft stairs to separate passengers booked on different flights.
The airline expressed sympathy to passengers affected by the delays but condemned what it described as misinformation and false claims accompanying the viral video.
The statement read in part:
“On the day in question, there were flight delays because of poor weather conditions, specifically harmattan-induced haze and fog, which is common at this time of the year and significantly limits visibility and impacts flight operations nationwide.”
Air Peace said it deployed three aircraft to Abuja to ensure that passengers could continue their journeys with minimal disruption.
The airline also urged members of the public to disregard what it described as misleading representations of the incident, insisting that the video did not reflect its normal operations or values.
“We appreciate your understanding and patience during this period and sincerely regret any inconvenience these delays may have caused you,” the airline said.
It added that the safety of its passengers and crew remained its utmost priority.
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