The Eleme and Okrika communities which host the Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers State, have decried the recent shutdown of the facility by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), barely a few months after it was revamped.

The host communities, at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, suspected the shutdown to be an act of sabotage against national interest.

The communities, under the aegis of HOSCOM Bulk Petroleum Retailers of the Port Harcourt Refinery, expressed dismay, claiming that before the shutdown, there had been no significant progress in refinery operations.

They questioned the rationale behind shutting down a refinery that had not yet functioned at full capacity, less than a year after it resumed operations.

They alleged that the shutdown was ?orchestrated? to give undue advantage to a private refinery, warning that ?If such happens,? Nigerians may pay as much as N2,000 per litre of petrol.?

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the HOSCOM Bulk Petroleum Retailers, Sunny Nkpe, briefing journalists, urged the NNPCL to adhere to the 30-day timeline they have given for maintenance, or else the communities would hold them accountable if the refinery stops operation.

He expressed deep concern that the shutdown may not be temporary as officially stated, but part of a larger plot to create a monopoly in crude oil refining.

Nkpe, who claims over 30 years of experience working in the refinery, said the decision to halt crude supply has sparked suspicions within the host communities and industry stakeholders.

He called on the Federal Government to immediately appoint a substantive managing director with strong technical expertise to oversee the refinery?s operations and to ensure timely completion of the ongoing revamp.

?This refinery started steaming around October last year and it was the reason we gave our massive support. They say they are shutting down for repairs. We don?t believe any repairs are taking place. We believe it is an attempt to shut it down like Warri and other refineries, so we are requesting that the 30 days shutdown be strictly adhered to, else the public would hold them responsible, the host communities would hold them responsible if anything goes wrong,? Nkpe warned.

?We are requesting the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, to quickly appoint a new managing director for the refinery so that the rehabilitation can go smoothly and set goals achieved.?

Nkpe also demanded the immediate removal of Akinrule, the current Port Harcourt Refinery Coordinator, accusing him of sabotaging President Bola Tinubu?s reform agenda.

He, however, expressed confidence in the contractor company handling the turnaround maintenance of the refinery, urging the government to provide sufficient funding to enable faster progress.

Meanwhile, residents of the oil-rich Egbemo Angalabiri Community in the Ekeremor Local Council of Bayelsa State, on Wednesday, staged a protest over alleged marginalisation by oil companies operating in the area.

The protesters, in their hundreds, accused Renaissance Africa Energy Company, formerly Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Oando Plc, formerly Agip, of impoverishing and failing to employ members of the community into their services despite being qualified to provide such services.

The protesters appealed to the federal and Bayelsa State governments to call their oil firms to order and ensure that they implement the Local Content Act by employing professionals from their host community. (The Guardian)

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