The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the over $18 billion allegedly spent on the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s three major refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna which remain largely non-functional.
This decision was reached on Thursday during plenary after a motion moved by Hon. Sesi Whingan, a lawmaker from Lagos State, was adopted. The motion raised serious concerns over the poor state of the refineries, despite years of repeated budget allocations and funding approvals.
While addressing the House, Whingan noted that even after more than two decades of rehabilitation efforts, the refineries have yet to become fully operational. He referred to recent claims made by the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, that about $18 billion has been spent on reviving the facilities.
“Despite consistent annual budgetary allocations over the years, there is no verifiable evidence of substantial rehabilitation outcomes,” Whingan said. “This represents a gross misuse of public funds and a betrayal of public trust.”
He added that with the removal of fuel subsidy by the current administration, the need for operational local refineries has become more urgent than ever, as Nigeria continues to depend heavily on imported petroleum products — a major contributor to rising fuel costs and economic hardship.
The House agreed that a comprehensive probe is needed to examine how the funds were spent, assess the progress of the rehabilitation efforts, and identify any signs of mismanagement, inefficiency, or corruption.
The decision comes against the backdrop of previous government announcements regarding refinery repairs:
In March 2021, the Federal Government approved $1.5 billion for the Port Harcourt refinery.
In August 2021, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved $1.48 billion for the Warri and Kaduna refineries to be fixed in three phases spanning 21, 23, and 33 months.
In November 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) claimed that the Port Harcourt refinery had begun processing crude oil but was shut down again in May 2025 for further maintenance.
Meanwhile, the Warri and Kaduna refineries are still under rehabilitation, with no definite timeline for completion.
In July 2025, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Bayo Ojulari, disclosed that the company was now considering selling off the refineries, citing increasing challenges and complications with their rehabilitation.
Many Nigerians have criticised the endless spending on the refineries with no visible results, especially when compared to the success of private sector initiatives like the Dangote Refinery, which recently began operations.
Whingan stressed that Nigeria’s economic stability and energy independence depend on having a functional and transparent downstream petroleum sector.
The House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) and Public Accounts has been tasked with carrying out the investigation and is expected to report back within a set timeframe.
