The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not to sell the country’s state-owned refineries unless it first explains how billions of dollars meant for fixing them were spent.
The party said selling the refineries now — after so much money has been used for repairs — would be a “massive economic betrayal” and called for a full, independent audit to check where the money really went.
In a strong press release on Thursday, the ADC asked: Why is the government selling off refineries it claims to have repaired?
What Are the Refineries?
Nigeria has three main government-owned refineries: Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna. They were built to process crude oil into usable fuel for the country, but they have not been working properly for years.
Over time, different governments promised to fix them. According to the ADC, about $18 billion (over ₦27 trillion) has been spent on these repairs — including $2.8 billion recently under President Tinubu’s administration.
So What’s the Problem?
According to Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, the problem is lack of transparency and accountability.
He said that while the government claimed a few months ago that Port Harcourt and Warri refineries were working again (partially), it is now turning around to sell them — without explaining what happened to all the money spent.
“How can you spend that much money fixing something, only to sell it off immediately? What exactly are you selling? Who is buying it? What was the point of the rehabilitation?” — ADC Statement
The ADC said it fears the planned sale could lead to corruption, where the refineries are sold at cheap prices to close allies or government insiders.
“Don’t Sell Without a Full Audit”
The party is demanding a complete investigation and audit — including financial, technical, and structural checks — before any sale happens. They believe it’s the only way to avoid cheating the Nigerian people.
“This isn’t just about bad decisions. This could be outright theft. People in other countries go to jail for things like this,” the ADC said.
The ADC also referred to comments by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, who once said he doubted if Nigeria’s old refineries could still work.
The ADC wants the Tinubu government to pause the sale, tell Nigerians what happened to the billions spent on repairs, and allow an independent group to audit everything.
Nigerians are watching closely, and many are demanding answers. The refineries are national property — and young people are beginning to ask tough questions about their country’s future.
