Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has reiterated his long-standing skepticism about the country’s state-owned refineries, declaring that they “will never work” as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited continues efforts to secure technical partners for their operation.
Speaking during a television interview aired Saturday night on Sony Irabor Live, Obasanjo emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships (PPP) in ensuring the success of major national projects. He pointed to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas as a model, noting its ownership structure of 51 percent private sector and 49 percent government stake.
“One of the lessons that I learnt is that PPP works,” Obasanjo said. “Look, one project that has not been destroyed by the government in Nigeria is the NLNG.”
He contrasted this with what he described as the decline of other government-run ventures, including the country’s railway system and national shipping company. According to him, similar challenges persist within the national oil company’s refining operations.
“The NNPC has refineries, and I said to people that it will never work,” he added, recounting a past exchange in which his position was questioned.
The remarks come as NNPC intensifies its search for private sector partners to manage the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna—facilities that have long struggled with inefficiency, underperformance, and repeated rehabilitation efforts.
Obasanjo’s comments are likely to reignite debate over the future of Nigeria’s refining sector and the role of private investment in reviving critical infrastructure.