BY Taiwo Adebulu
Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, has asked the federal government to spend the $1.5bn meant for rehabilitating the Port Harcourt refinery on building hospitals for Nigerians.
In March, the federal executive council (FEC) had approved the sum for the project.
Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum, said the contract was awarded to Tecnimont SPA, an Italian company.
He added that the rehabilitation will be done in three phases of 18, 24, and 44 months.
On Tuesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) signed the engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contract with the Italian firm.
In a Twitter post on Thursday, Atiku described the facility as a loss-making refinery.
He said using the money meant for the refinery to build hospitals will give citizens quality access to healthcare.
“Rather than spend $1.5 billion on a loss-making refinery, would it not make better economic sense, as well ensure social justice, to use that money to build mass hospitals for our people,” Atiku said.
“And provide our doctors with better working conditions, so every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare?”
Atiku had earlier faulted the decision of the federal government to expend the $1.5 billion on the project, describing it as suspicious.
Atedo Peterside, the founder of Stanbic IBTC and Anap Foundation, also said the funds to be spent on the refinery can build 12 world-class hospitals.
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