The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended former managing directors and top executives of Nigeria’s three major state-owned refineries—Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.
The officials were apprehended over the alleged mismanagement of $2.96 billion earmarked for refinery rehabilitation projects.
Sources within the EFCC revealed that the arrested officials, including former Port Harcourt Refining Company MD Ibrahim Onoja and Warri Refinery’s Efifia Chu, are being investigated for their roles in the alleged diversion and misappropriation of funds allocated for the turnaround maintenance of the refineries.
SaharaReporters reported in December 2024 that the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC), with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, which was announced to have resumed production in Warri, Delta State, was producing only Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) otherwise known as diesel and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK).
“The Warri Refinery is far from turning out Premium Motor Spirit (otherwise known as petrol) which is believed to be the mostly demanded commodity as only one of the three plants in the facility is working,” the staff had revealed to SaharaReporters at that time.
On December 7, SaharaReporters also reported that the Conversion Units of the Port-Harcourt Refinery of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) which are responsible for high-value products such as jet fuel and gasoline were not functional, despite claims by the then NNPCL Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari that the facility was back and running.
The Conversion Units comprise of the catalytic crackers, hydrocrackers, or cokers and process the heavier fractions into higher-value products like gasoline, jet fuel, or diesel, top sources in the refinery had explained to SaharaReporters.
SaharaReporters had reported that the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) which is the primary component of the refinery is the only operational activity and Nigerians cannot yet get the actual values for which the Refinery was built.
Meanwhile, according to EFCC investigators, a total of $1.56 billion was allocated to the Port Harcourt refinery, $740.7 million to the Kaduna refinery, and $657 million to the Warri refinery.
The probe intensified after about N80 billion was traced to the personal accounts of one of the sacked MDs, according to PUNCH.
An official familiar with the investigation stated, “This probe spans all key actors involved during the period. Nigerians are asking: where is the money, and why are the refineries still not functioning?”
The arrest follows sweeping management changes at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which manages the three refineries. In April 2025, the new NNPCL leadership dismissed the refinery MDs and senior executives, including Bala Wunti, former chief of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services.
Additionally, EFCC has launched a formal probe into Mele Kyari, the immediate past Group CEO of NNPCL, along with 13 other former top executives. An internal NNPCL memo dated April 28, 2025, confirmed the request for financial records by the anti-graft agency.
According to the report; despite claims of recommissioning, the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries have underperformed or completely shut down since operations resumed in late 2024. The Warri refinery, with a 125,000 barrels per day capacity, shut down again in January 2025 due to a critical fault in its Crude Distillation Unit Main Heater.
The Port Harcourt refinery, which reportedly cost $1.5 billion to rehabilitate, has operated below 40% of its capacity since November 2024.
A document from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority disclosed that Warri’s $897 million revamp yielded no Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), with activities at the plant largely stalled. Marketers confirmed no fuel lifting has taken place from Warri since its supposed revival.
Energy experts and industry stakeholders have accused NNPCL of deceiving Nigerians. Energy consultant Kelvin Emmanuel described the televised recommissioning as a “charade,” stating that the refineries lack the infrastructure, such as catalytic reforming units and active crude pipelines, to support real operations.
The troubled Warri refinery faces further setbacks as support staff threaten an indefinite strike from May 5, 2025, over poor pay and employment conditions. Dafe Ighomitedo, a workers’ representative, said promises made since 2015 regarding improved salaries and full employment status were never fulfilled.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) have called for transparency and a thorough probe. IPMAN’s Delta State Chairman, Harry Okenini, lamented the absence of fuel supplies from the Warri refinery months after its relaunch.
