
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has openly mocked the Federal Government's decision to privatize the operations and maintenance of the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
This move by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) marks a notable shift in policy, aligning closely with proposals Atiku had championed during his presidential campaigns.
During the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections, Atiku, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had advocated for the privatization of Nigeria's underperforming refineries and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
He argued that such measures would inject much-needed efficiency and profitability into the sector. However, his proposals were met with criticism from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fast forward to August 2024, the NNPCL announced its intention to engage reputable and credible Operations and Maintenance (O&M) companies for the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
The national oil company stated that this move aims to enhance the efficiency and performance of these facilities, which have been moribund for years. Built in 1978, the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company has a distillation capacity of 125,000 barrels per day (bpd) and houses a petrochemical plant with significant production capabilities.
Similarly, the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, operational since 1980, was initially designed to serve Northern Nigeria with a capacity of 50,000 bpd, later expanded to 110,000 bpd.
Reacting to this announcement, Atiku took to social media, using a smile emoji to convey his feelings about the development.
This gesture was widely interpreted as a mischievous remark towards the government. In a statement shared on his X account on Friday, August 30, 2024, Atiku's reaction seemed to underscore the irony of the current administration adopting a policy he had long advocated for.

"The politics of refineries in Nigeria has always been contentious," said Atiku. "During my campaigns, I made it clear that selling off the moribund refineries and privatizing the NNPC would inject effectiveness and profitability. It's amusing to see the current administration finally coming around to this idea."
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