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The House of Representatives on Thursday mandated its relevant committees to investigate the non-functionality of state-owned petroleum refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, despite the reported expenditure of about $18bn on their rehabilitation over the past two decades.

The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion on notice moved by Lagos lawmaker, Oluwaseun Whinghan, during a plenary session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu.

The Federal Government owns four petroleum refineries — two in Port Harcourt and one each in Warri and Kaduna.

Managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the refineries have suffered perennial decline due to poor administration and vandalism — a situation that has left the country dependent on imported refined products.

Recently, billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote argued that the chances of the refineries returning to optimal operation were slim, even as the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, stated that selling off the national assets would not be ruled out.

Moving the motion, Whinghan, who represents the Badagry Federal Constituency of Lagos State, said the House was worried about the persistent non-functionality of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.

This, he noted, is despite over two decades of rehabilitation efforts and an estimated $18bn spent on turnaround maintenance, with no tangible results to show.

He said, “The House is worried over the recent public statements by Nigeria’s foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, expressing doubts about the viability of these refineries and describing the multi-billion-dollar investments as futile, sparking widespread public concern and outrage over potential mismanagement.

“We recall that in 2007, during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Dangote and other private investors acquired the refineries, but the succeeding administration of President Umaru Yar’Adua reversed the transaction, opting instead for rehabilitation using public funds — a decision that has yielded no significant operational improvement.

“The House is concerned that on Thursday, July 10, 2025, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bayo Ojulari, in an interview published by The PUNCH, sought to distance the current administration from the monumental mismanagement of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.

“He confirmed their continued non-functionality despite significant investments estimated at $18bn and proposed the potential sale of these assets, thereby raising critical questions about fiscal responsibility, strategic asset management, and the long-term implications for Nigeria’s energy security and economic stability.”

According to the Lagos lawmaker, Nigerians are worried that despite consistent annual budgetary allocations over the years, “there is no verifiable evidence of substantial rehabilitation outcomes, representing a gross misuse of public funds and a betrayal of public trust.”

He added, “We are aware that Nigeria’s economic stability and energy security are inextricably linked to a functional and accountable downstream petroleum sector, particularly following the removal of the petrol subsidy by the current administration, which underscores the urgent need for operational refineries to mitigate economic hardship.

“We are convinced that a comprehensive, transparent, and time-bound investigation is essential to ascertain the current operational and structural status of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries; examine the utilisation of all allocated funds and the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts; identify any infractions, mismanagement, or corrupt practices in the management of these assets; and propose actionable reforms to safeguard future public investments and ensure the sustainability of Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure.”

Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream, Downstream, and Midstream), Gas Resources, and Public Assets “to investigate funds appropriated and disbursed for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries between 2010 and 2024.”

The committees are to “ascertain the status of the refineries, examine how public funds were utilised, identify agencies responsible for infractions or mismanagement, and report within four weeks for further legislative action.”

A pro-President Bola Tinubu group in Ondo State, the Progressive Network for Tinubu, on Tuesday declared that President Tinubu has no serious opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The group also warned former President Goodluck Jonathan against returning to the race, saying doing so would “end in embarrassment.”

This follows social media reports suggesting that Jonathan is warming up to contest the 2027 poll under a yet-to-be-revealed political party.

Amid this rumour, a legal practitioner, Johnmary Jideobi, on Monday, filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking on Tuesday during the inauguration of local government structures across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State, the PNT Director-General, Mr. Olumide Obadele, said beyond legal hurdles, Jonathan should uphold his reputation as a statesman by staying away from the 2027 race.

According to him, opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, are “on life support,” and any candidate contesting on their platform, including Jonathan, cannot defeat President Tinubu.

Obadele dismissed claims that the All Progressives Congress was jittery over Jonathan’s rumoured ambition, saying constitutional and legal constraints make his participation nearly impossible.

He said, “I can tell you that Jonathan will not run at the end of the day. The Constitution is clear about it, and there’s no need to twist it. If he insists, he will only end up embarrassed and rubbished.”

Obadele described the 2027 presidential election as “a done deal” for the APC, insisting that none of the existing opposition parties has the structure or clout to unseat President Tinubu.

“Political parties such as the PDP, Labour Party and ADC are in the ICU and lack the organisation and national appeal needed to challenge the ruling APC. I do not think any opposition party in Nigeria today can say it wants to run against Asiwaju. For me, 2027 is a done deal,” he said.

On the group’s mobilisation efforts for the President, the PNT convener said the group was working to expand grassroots participation, particularly in Ondo State, where only about 28 per cent of registered voters participated in the last general elections.

He lamented the growing voter apathy among elites who prefer to engage politics on social media rather than at the polls, saying civic engagement and political education were now the focus of PNT’s activities.

“Our goal is to awaken the remaining 70 per cent of voters who stayed home during the last polls. We’re engaging communities, civil groups and youth organisations to enlighten them about Asiwaju’s leadership and achievements. We want Yoruba land to stand solidly behind him,” he said.

Meanwhile, civil society organisations in Delta State have condemned the lawsuit against Jonathan, describing it as politically motivated and an abuse of judicial process.

The Director-General of the Young Nigerian Rights Organisation, Mr. Victor Ojei, called for the immediate dismissal of the suit, which he described as “a politically motivated distraction and a gross abuse of judicial process.”

In a statement made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday in Asaba, Ojei expressed concern over what he called “a growing pattern of weaponising the courts for political persecution.”

He said, “The suit, which seeks to bar Dr. Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, is not only legally baseless but also morally wrong and contrary to the spirit of democracy.

“Dr. Jonathan’s assumption of office in 2010 followed the tragic passing of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua — a constitutional transition rather than an election. His initial tenure was incomplete and constitutionally distinct from a full presidential term.

“The framers of our Constitution did not intend for such a lawful succession to be counted as an ‘elected term.’ Any argument to the contrary is a distortion of both fact and law.”

Ojei further argued that the case suffers from a fundamental defect of locus standi, as the plaintiff lacks the legal standing to bring such an action.

“The individual who filed the suit neither represents any institution of state nor has suffered any direct injury that warrants judicial intervention. It is a speculative petition driven by political interests rather than constitutional principles,” he added.

The organisation stressed that democracy thrives on inclusion and the right of every citizen to participate, not on preemptive exclusion based on personal or partisan motives.

“To attempt to silence a citizen’s political right before he has even declared interest in the race is not only unconstitutional but a dangerous precedent for our democracy,” the statement added.

The group urged the judiciary to safeguard its integrity by resisting political manipulation, stressing that the courts are “the last hope of the common man, not a playground for political adventurers.”

It, therefore, called on the Federal High Court to dismiss the case without hesitation.