Atiku Abubakar Demands Suspension of NNPCL Refinery Deal

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate suspension of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited's (NNPCL) agreement with two Chinese firms, Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng Fuzhou Industrial Park Operating Management Co. Ltd., aimed at restarting the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.

In a statement issued on Friday by his spokesperson Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the deal as a dangerous gamble for Nigeria's economic future, accusing the current administration of engaging in opaque arrangements lacking transparency and technical credibility. He expressed concerns that Sanjiang Chemical primarily produces petrochemicals and fine chemicals, lacking the necessary expertise in large-scale crude oil refining, while Xingcheng reportedly has no verified experience in petroleum engineering or refinery management.

Atiku questioned why the NNPCL would bypass globally recognized refinery engineering companies in favor of firms he described as lacking proven capacity. He demanded full transparency regarding the memorandum of understanding, including financial obligations and technical assessments, and called for an open competitive bidding process involving reputable global refinery operators.