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The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has commended the federal government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) over a new partnership with Chinese firms aimed at reviving the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.
The union’s National President, Salimon Akanni Oladiti, gave the commendation in a statement on Thursday, describing the development as a critical step toward addressing long-standing inefficiencies in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
The deal follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NNPC Ltd. and two Chinese companies, Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, for a Technical Equity Partnership to support the completion and operation of the refineries.
Oladiti said the initiative could help reduce Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported petroleum products despite being a major oil-producing nation.
He noted that years of refinery failure and underperformance had contributed significantly to rising fuel prices, foreign exchange pressure, inflation, unemployment, and broader economic hardship.
According to him, Nigerian workers and ordinary citizens have continued to bear the burden of unstable fuel supply, high transport costs, and worsening living conditions driven by the absence of functional local refining capacity.
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He said, “The agreement with the Chinese firms presents an opportunity for the country to reposition its oil and gas sector, restore public confidence in the nation’s refining capacity, create employment opportunities, encourage industrial growth, strengthen energy security, and reduce the economic pressure associated with fuel importation.”
Oladiti, however, stressed that Nigerians are weary of repeated refinery rehabilitation promises that have historically consumed huge public resources without delivering lasting results.
He urged all parties involved in the new arrangement to ensure transparency, accountability, professionalism, and strict adherence to timelines in executing the project.
“The revival of the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries must not end as another political announcement but should translate into real economic relief and tangible benefits for Nigerians already battling difficult economic realities,” he said.
The NUPENG president further called on the Federal Government and NNPC Ltd. to remain committed to policies and partnerships that prioritise national development, economic stability, and the welfare of citizens.
