A week after the Port Harcourt Refinery resumed operations, tanker drivers and marketers are voicing their frustrations over the facility’s performance.
Drivers expressed their growing impatience with the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), citing numerous unfulfilled promises. Despite the NNPCL’s assertion of a production capacity of 60,000 barrels of petrol per day, drivers report that only about four trucks are being loaded daily.
Local business owners in the area also echoed these sentiments, with many stating they have yet to experience any noticeable increase in patronage since the refinery’s restart, as reported by our correspondent, Emelda Ifeme.
Dr. Joseph Obele, the National Public Relations Officer of the Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), suggested that privatization may be necessary for the Port Harcourt Refinery to operate effectively.
Correspondents noted that during a recent visit to the refinery depot, no trucks were observed entering or leaving the facility, contributing to concerns about the operational viability of the plant.