The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the billions of dollars reportedly spent on the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries, which have remained largely non-functional despite years of investment.
Gatekeepers News reports that the resolution was passed during Thursday’s plenary following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Sesi Whingan, a lawmaker representing Lagos State.
Moving the motion, Whingan expressed concern that the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna have failed to resume meaningful operations after more than two decades of rehabilitation efforts.
He referenced claims by Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, that $18 billion has been spent on the rehabilitation of the refineries without tangible results.
“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.”
The lawmaker noted that Nigeria’s economic stability and energy security depend heavily on a functional downstream petroleum sector—especially after the removal of the petrol subsidy, which, he said, makes operational refineries crucial to easing current economic hardship.
Whingan called for a comprehensive, transparent, and time-bound investigation to determine the true state of the refineries and how allocated funds were utilised.
“The probe must examine the utilisation of all funds, assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts, and identify any infractions, mismanagement, or corrupt practices in managing these national assets,” he said.
He added that the investigation should propose actionable reforms to ensure accountability and protect future public investments in the oil and gas sector.
Following the motion’s adoption, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, referred the matter to the House Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream), Public Assets, and Gas Resources, with a directive to report back within four weeks.
The motion comes amid long-standing concerns about the state of Nigeria’s refineries and the massive funds spent on their rehabilitation.
In March 2021, the federal government approved $1.5 billion for the Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation, while in August 2021, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved an additional $1.48 billion for the Warri and Kaduna refineries in three phases of 21, 23, and 33 months.
Although the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited announced in November 2024 that the Port Harcourt refinery had begun processing crude oil, the facility was shut down again in May 2025 for maintenance. The Warri and Kaduna refineries remain under rehabilitation.
In July 2025, Bayo Ojulari, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, hinted that the company was considering selling the refineries, citing complications in the rehabilitation process.
