Atiku Abubakar Demands Halt to NNPC's Chinese Refinery Deal

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, has called for an immediate suspension of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company's (NNPC) partnership with Sanjiang Chemical Company and Xingcheng Fuzhou Industrial Park regarding the management of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Frank Shaibu, Abubakar described the deal as a dangerous gamble for Nigeria's economic future.

He criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu for allegedly attempting to mortgage national assets through opaque arrangements that lack technical credibility and transparency. Abubakar raised concerns about the qualifications of the two Chinese firms, stating that there is no public evidence of their experience in managing full-scale crude oil refineries.

He warned that the arrangement could lead to further financial losses for Nigeria, referencing past scandals involving billions of dollars in refinery rehabilitation. Abubakar urged for public scrutiny of the deal, emphasizing the need for accountability in managing national resources.