The Hoscom Bulk Retailers Association of Port Harcourt refinery has asked Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, to re-evaluate his itinerary and pay a courtesy visit to the Port Harcourt refinery.
In a statement on Tuesday, the group expressed disappointment about Ojulari’s recent visit to the Nigeria LNG in Rivers state.
“The Hoscom Bulk Retailers Association of Port Harcourt Refinery is shocked and disappointed that the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, recently visited Rivers State, specifically the LNG facility in Bonny, without deeming it fit to visit the Port Harcourt Refinery,” the statement reads.
“Engr. Bayo Ojulari’s visit to Rivers State without visiting the Port Harcourt Refinery is not only a slap in the face to the workers and management of the refinery but also a clear indication of the lack of appreciation for the contributions of the refinery to the nation’s economy.
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“While the LNG facility in Bonny is an important asset, the Port Harcourt Refinery is a vital part of the nation’s refining capacity and deserves attention and recognition.”
The retailers group said a visit to the refinery by Ojulari would have been a significant morale booster, motivating the rehabilitation team and contractors working to restore the refinery to its optimal capacity.
“Such a visit would have demonstrated his commitment to the success of the refinery and the well-being of its workers,” the association added.
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His refusal to visit the refinery, they said, indicates a lack of “interest in the functionality of the plant, which is alarming”.
“It raises questions about the management’s priorities and commitment to revamping the refinery,” the group said.
The retailers urged Ojulari to familiarise himself with the operations and challenges of the facility.
Recently, oil industry stakeholders have made similar calls, nudging Ojulari to visit the refinery.
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On August 12, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) said Ojulari has not shown interest in fixing the Port Harcourt refinery.
A day later, Emmanuel Inimgba, eastern zonal secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), urged Ojulari to either resign or expedite the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.
