Refinery scandal of 3 billion US

The Commission for Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) has initiated a large investigation by the funds for rehabilitation from three Nigerian refineries, which led to the arrest of former managing directors and high -ranking official from Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Raffineries.

According to the EFCC, the officials are examined for their role in embezzlement of over 2.9 billion US dollars for repairs and upgrades. The breakdown comprises around 1.56 billion US dollars for the Port Harcourt refinery, 740 million US dollars for Kaduna and 657 million dollars for Warri.

Studies showed alarming financial discrepancies, one of the former managing directors of the refineries accumulated an amazing 80 billion n on personal bank accounts. Sources of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) confirmed that the EFCC has uncovered significant amounts of money associated with these people, which led to a broader examination of their activities.

The NNPCL, which manages the refineries, was intensively checked when the Nigerian citizens question the effectiveness of the rehabilitation efforts, especially after the refineries of Port Harcourt and Warri resumed the operations at the end of 2024 only to face significant operational challenges. Despite the first fanfare, the refineries have difficulty fulfilling the production expectations and the refinery of Port Harcourt with a capacity of less than 40%.

In response to the results, the new leadership of the NNPCL dismissed several top executives, including the managing directors of the three refineries. The ongoing examination of the EFCC has expanded to thoroughly review the funds paid and the parties responsible for managing the refineries during the renovation period.

An EFCC insider said: “We question the whereabouts of the money assigned for this renovation. For the Nigerians, it is important to know what happened to the funds and why the refineries are spent despite billions.”

Mele Kyari, the former CEO of the NNPCL group, the situation is also examined as part of the broader examination. Documents received by sources within the NNPCL show that several other managerial managers are also involved in the investigation due to alleged corruption and abuse of office.

The NNPCL still has to treat the special features of the examination, with refusing the speaker to comment on the allegations when they are addressed to clarify.

In the meantime, the revision of the refineries was criticized by industry experts. Many claim that rehabilitation was never really effective, although the refineries still cannot meet the country's growing fuel requirements. Energy expert Kelvin Emmanuel described the television task of the refineries as a “Scharade” and said that the public was misled because they believed that the plants were in operation, even though they were actually far away.

The concerns about the state of refineries have also triggered a wave of protests by workers. A planned strike by Warri Refinery employees, who is scheduled to start on May 5, 2025, continue to face the company. The workers protest against poor working conditions, low wages and the failure of management promise to honor who were made during the restart of the refinery.

The strike comes when the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) frustrated the refinery in January 2025 since the supposed reopening of the refinery.

In view of the ongoing scandal, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Outlet Outlet Outlet Association of Nigeria (Petroan) has called for a complete examination of the refineries Nigeria. The national president of Petroan, Billy Gillis-Harry, has admitted that the reality of the refineries does not match the earlier reports of their operational status.

The controversy around the refineries is further reinforced by allegations that previous tests were plagued to revise the plants of inefficiency, with experts questioning wisdom to invest large sums in facilities that may be outside the repair. The energy analyst Dan Kunle warned that the ongoing rehabilitation of the aging refineries Nigeria could be a waste of resources, especially in view of the logistical challenges, such as the lack of functioning pipelines for crude oil transport.

If the investigation develops and further details arise, the Nigerians remain confident that the truth will be revealed and those who are responsible for mismanagement by public funds will be held accountable.