Timothy Mgbere, Secretary of the Alesa Community Stakeholders in Eleme, Rivers State, has raised concerns over the newly reopened Port Harcourt Refinery, claiming the refinery is operating at minimal capacity and using old stock, not freshly refined products. Speaking on Arise TV, he revealed that only six trucks were loaded on Tuesday, contrary to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) announcement of dispatching 200 trucks daily.
Mgbere described the refinery’s reopening as a “mere show,” accusing NNPCL of misleading the public about the facility’s performance. He clarified that the refinery’s operations remain skeletal, with only some units functional, and emphasized that the products loaded were from a three-year-old stock, not new production.
He urged NNPCL to provide accurate information to Nigerians, highlighting the economic importance of the refinery to the Alesa community. Mgbere further stated that the televised event was a response to public pressure rather than a reflection of full-scale operations, stressing the need for transparency from the agency.