By: Enobong Ukpong
Peter Obi is facing backlash from Nigerians for congratulating the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) on the revamp of the Port Harcourt refinery. The criticism stems from the current fuel price hike, which has caused widespread hardship among citizens
Many Nigerians are questioning the timing and sincerity of Obi’s congratulatory message, given the struggles they’re facing due to the fuel price increase. Some have expressed disappointment, feeling that Obi’s statement is tone-deaf and insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians.
Others have pointed out that the revamp of the refinery is a long-overdue development, and that the government should be doing more to address the fuel scarcity and price hike. There are also concerns that the revamped refinery may not necessarily lead to a reduction in fuel prices or an improvement in the overall economic situation ยน.
It’s worth noting that Obi’s congratulatory message may have been intended to acknowledge the progress made by the NNPC, but it’s clear that the timing and context of the message have been misinterpreted by many Nigerians.
praising their efforts in fulfilling the long-standing promise of revamping the refinery. He noted that the refinery boasts an installed production capacity of 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with approximately 200 trucks expected to load products daily. However, Obi also emphasized the need for transparency in the NNPC’s operations and for the benefits of the refinery’s revival to be felt by Nigerians
His statement reads:
I wish to congratulate the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for fulfilling the long-standing promise of revamping the old Port Harcourt refinery.
The refinery, which comes on stream today boasts an installed production capacity of 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Approximately 200 trucks are expected to load products daily from the refinery.
Nigerians now await the corresponding impact and benefits on pump prices and the overall economy.
Additionally, news of the Kaduna refinery’s revival is promising, as it is expected to boost productivity, improve transportation, and alleviate economic burdens across the country.
While we acknowledge these achievements as a step in the right direction, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of transparency in the operations of the NNPC.
Nigerians deserve clarity and accountability regarding the management of the nation’s vital oil resources, ensuring that the benefits of increased refining capacity reach every Nigerian and that the gains are used to support long-term development.
A new Nigeria is POssible!
-PO
๐
Nigerians on social media have tackled Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party over his hurried congratulation of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration on the controversial Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, processing at the Port-Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State.
SaharaReporters exclusively reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was not trucking out Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, from the Port Harcourt Refinery as the company claimed on Tuesday, citing top sources in the know.
SaharaReporters had also reported that the NNPCL instead bought “Cracked C5 petroleum resins” and blended it with other products including Naphtha to sell to the Nigerian public as though the refinery processed it.
Top sources familiar with the activities of the company and the state of the refinery had told SaharaReporters that the claim of trucking out PMS from the reopened refinery was a lie.
Shortly after, NNPCL confirmed SaharaReportersโ exclusive reports that only the old Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State is working and the refinery is trucking out blended PMS (known as Petrol).
Amid the controversy, Mr Peter Obi in a statement posted on his handle at 7:23am on Wednesday, congratulated the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for what he described as “for fulfilling the long-standing promise of revamping the old Port Harcourt refinery”.
Obi further stated, “The refinery, which comes on stream today boasts an installed production capacity of 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Approximately 200 trucks are expected to load products daily from the refinery”.
He, however, noted that Nigerians now await the corresponding impact and benefits on pump prices and the overall economy.
“Additionally, news of the Kaduna refinery’s revival is promising, as it is expected to boost productivity, improve transportation, and alleviate economic burdens across the country.
“While we acknowledge these achievements as a step in the right direction, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of transparency in the operations of the NNPC.
“Nigerians deserve clarity and accountability regarding the management of the nation’s vital oil resources, ensuring that the benefits of increased refining capacity reach every Nigerian and that the gains are used to support long-term development,” he wrote.
Meanwhile the post has since generated angry reactions with his admirers tackling him for sending quick congratulation without verifying whether the purported report of revamping Port-Harcourt Refinery was not another “Air Nigeria” project of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While some have vowed not to repost his tweet, others have advised he should delete the tweet and get further details about the Refinery status first.
For some others who probably are APC supporters, they welcomed the tweet as testament that President Bola Tinubu is working.
@D_lone_wolf_II wrote: “Mr. Peter Obi, the NNPC plant that has just opened, has been reported to be a SCAM.
“Once again, they have deceived several Nigerians like as you and I.
“They are blending random chemicals and selling it as “PMS”
If I were you, I would take down this tweet or, at least, edit it.
@ibirogba2000 wrote: “Obi just confirmed that president Tinubu is the best president in the history of Nigeria.
“This is a welcome development and we all know that PBAT was going to deliver
“Peter Obi this is a good time for you to become one of the spokesmen of Tinubu.”
@DavidsOffor wrote: “They are canceling PO for celebrating a success achieved by this FG. How bitter can a set of people be that whenever their country is making progress, they are wailing.
“Anyways, kudos PO for the boldness, it is about Nigeria first o.”
For @NaijaHistory_, he wrote: “Today in Nigeria history will remember how Peter Obi congratulated a f@ke PH refinery revamping by the lamba Tinubu regime:”
@DailyJusticeAct, however questioned whether Mr Peter Obi did due diligence before his post, adding “Agbado & his gang simply moved their Malta blending scam to Port-Harcourt & you are congratulating..”
“Did you do due diligence b4 this post..
“#chai”
@OfficiaEdoOsasB wrote: “Nothing to congratulate until we see results.
This was the same way they announced Nigeria Air and it became one of the greatest scam ever.”
@realTobiAkinbo wrote:
“Oga mi, are we still opposition like this? Because just like Nigeria Air, this NNPCL refinery is another package to deceive Nigerians into believing our refinery is working, while they import fuel using the PH refinery as a gateway.”
@I__E__O wrote: “My able president, let’s wait and see if that not “the more you look the less you see” kind of stuff from our government.”
@saytalksay wrote: “No need for congratulations itโs only gonna be temporary anyway thatโs if we assume itโs actually working.”
@DwizardKing wrote: “Your Excellency please kindly withhold your congratulations to them it’s a scam and not sustainable. They just engaged in blending which the refinery cannot sustain.
“This is just to deceive Nigerians. You need to do more research on it before you offer them any congratulations.”
@Princeuwaj wrote: “@PeterObi H.E you for wait small before you congratulate this people ohโฆ. I think for now na blending them they do for diaโฆ. Recall Nigeria Airโฆ
@OlaoluwaloseyiA wrote: “Your Excellency, we know it’s a DIESEL refinery!
“How can PMS be refined at a diesel facility?
“You’re not following: all this is to disallow Dangote from fulfilling his mandate to Nigerians of getting unadulterated PMS.
“Remember the Malta facility?
How will they get bad PMS in?”
@Malik_Mich69 wrote:
“Oga get your facts right. You must not congratulate.”
@AROLE_PeterObi wrote:
“Dear Peter Obi please don’t rush to congratulate NNPC oooooo
“Pls let see what is going on there
The information we are hearing is somehow”
@OpeyemiAyoola01 wrote; “We should wait and let’s see if they can produce fuel for six months before we congratulate them. All of these might be fake, everything about them is fake, it’s their way.”
@ElumeFredrick wrote: “Sir, please you should have waited a bit to tweet this.
“The news making the rounds is that the refinery is Malta brought home to Nigeria.
“The quality is being questioned and the NNPC is not truthful.
No Refinery can produce and supply immediately
Moral lesson: Ultimately, the controversy surrounding Peter Obi’s congratulatory message serves as a reminder of the importance of sincerity, verification, and responsible communication in our personal and public lives.
Can citizens continue to have hope in Nigeria?
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