By Erewunmi Peace

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed doubt over the future of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries, stating that they may never function efficiently again under government management.

Obasanjo made this remark during a recent interview, where he criticized the handling of the country’s refineries by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

According to him, past efforts to rehabilitate the refineries have not yielded lasting results, despite significant financial investments over the years. He argued that government-run refineries are often plagued by inefficiency and mismanagement.

The former president suggested that the private sector is better positioned to manage such facilities effectively, noting that attempts during his administration to privatize the refineries were resisted.

However, Obasanjo’s statement reflects his personal opinion and longstanding position on the issue.

The Nigerian government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited have continued efforts to revive the refineries, including rehabilitation projects and partnerships aimed at restoring operations.

Nigeria’s refineries have remained largely non-functional for years, forcing the country to rely heavily on imported petroleum products despite being a major crude oil producer.

The debate over whether government-owned refineries can be successfully revived or should be privatized remains ongoing.