Energy expert and lecturer at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Dr Joseph Obele, has called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to urgently restart the country's government-owned refineries in response to rising petroleum prices.
Obele said restoring production at the government-owned refineries and maximising all available refining capacity was the most immediate and practical approach to easing the current price increases. He said doing so would boost domestic supply, cut reliance on imported refined products and support stability in the downstream market, while private-sector investment and competition continue to be encouraged.
He linked the price pressure to rising crude prices amid tensions between the United States and Iran and concerns around the Strait of Hormuz, noting that Brent crude closed at about $105.83 per barrel and WTI at about $102.43 per barrel on 16 September 2026. He said the effects were already visible locally, with Premium Motor Spirit selling between ₦1,400 and ₦1,500 per litre in some locations and Automotive Gas Oil above ₦2,000 per litre, warning that sustained increases would raise costs across transportation, food, medical services and other essentials.
Obele urged the government and NNPCL to commence production at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, arguing that doing so before the 2027 general elections would matter both for energy security and public confidence in the administration's handling of critical national assets.
"The Port Harcourt Refinery should become a measurable demonstration of government's commitment to the welfare of Nigerians. If the refinery is successfully restarted before the 2027 elections, it will give citizens an opportunity to assess the administration's performance in the petroleum sector based on tangible results."
He said the prolonged dormancy of the refineries had had wider economic and employment consequences across the petroleum value chain, affecting workers, contractors, marketers, transporters and businesses, and that a functional Port Harcourt Refinery would stimulate activity, support jobs and restore stakeholder confidence.
Obele added that the goal was not to undermine private refineries but to ensure all viable refining assets — government and private — contribute to national energy security, supply adequacy and a competitive downstream market.
On the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, Obele, who is an indigene of Eleme in Ogoni, called on the Federal Government to adopt an all-inclusive, peaceful and people-centred approach. He said the exercise required genuine consultation and adequate attention to the legitimate concerns of host communities, built on dialogue, trust and transparency rather than approaches that could heighten tension or undermine confidence.
"All-inclusiveness and attention to the demands of the people are key to the successful resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni. Selective political interference or military might should not be the option."
He said the people of Ogoni should be treated as critical stakeholders in decisions on exploration, environmental restoration, community development and the economic benefits arising from petroleum activities in the area, and called on the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, traditional institutions, host communities, regulators, prospective operators and civil society organisations to prioritise meaningful engagement and peaceful resolution of outstanding concerns.
Obele added that any renewed exploration programme should set out a clear framework for environmental protection, remediation, host-community development, employment and sustainable benefits, describing the resumption as an opportunity to build a new relationship between government, operators and host communities based on mutual respect and environmental responsibility.