The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) is facing renewed calls to prioritise the revival of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries following concerns over the country’s reliance on private refining capacity, particularly the Dangote Refinery.

Stakeholders in the oil and gas sector say the development has once again highlighted the urgent need for functional public refineries capable of supporting local fuel supply and reducing dependence on imports.

The calls come amid debates surrounding Nigeria’s refining strategy and the relationship between government-owned facilities and private sector investments in the downstream petroleum industry.

Industry observers argue that while the Dangote Refinery represents a major milestone for Africa’s energy sector, Nigeria still requires fully operational public refineries to strengthen energy security and market competition.

They noted that reviving the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries would help diversify refining sources, stabilise supply chains and reduce pressure on fuel pricing.

Critics have also questioned the billions of dollars spent over the years on refinery rehabilitation projects with limited visible results.

Some energy experts believe the current situation should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to focus on transparency, technical competence and long-term sustainability in managing national refining assets.

The NNPC has repeatedly maintained that rehabilitation work on state-owned refineries remains ongoing, with officials expressing confidence that the facilities will gradually return to operation.

The conversation around refinery revival continues as Nigeria pushes to reduce fuel import dependence and strengthen domestic petroleum production capacity.