The President says ageing facilities must become profitable assets as his administration pushes reforms across the petroleum sector

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, August 13, 2026, assured the leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers that Nigeria’s refineries would return to full operation, while stressing that the facilities must ultimately become profitable assets for the country.

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Tinubu gave the assurance at the Presidential Villa in Abuja when he received NUPENG leaders, describing the union as an important partner in Nigeria’s economy and a critical stakeholder in the energy and petroleum sector.

The president said restoring the refineries was not simply about restarting machinery or producing smoke from their chimneys, but about ensuring that the facilities generate sustainable economic value.

“The refineries that you mentioned is going to come back to work,” Tinubu said. “Ordinary flame and the smoke of refinery doesn’t mean that it’s working until it’s profitable and it yields the value for which it is built.”

His comments offer renewed hope for Nigeria’s long-running effort to restore domestic refining capacity after years of operational difficulties, maintenance challenges and substantial investment in rehabilitation.

Tinubu said he had accepted responsibility for the assets and liabilities inherited by his administration, arguing that the focus should now be on making them productive rather than dwelling on their history.

“I’m not a man who will look back on everything because I’ve accepted the asset and liability of my predecessors,” he said.

“No matter what has happened in years past, it’s my responsibility now as the President to fix it, make it work for the largest common value of our population.”

Reforms and the cost of change

The meeting also touched on the broader economic reforms introduced by the administration, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy.

Tinubu recalled discussions with organised labour before assuming office, saying the subsidy decision had allowed government to redirect resources towards other priorities, including infrastructure.

He acknowledged the difficulties associated with the reforms but argued that their success should be judged against their longer-term economic impact rather than only their immediate consequences.

The president pointed to major infrastructure projects as examples of areas where government was seeking funding, including the Lagos-Badagry Road, Abuja-Kaduna highway, Abuja-Kano highway and Sokoto-Badagry highway.

The emphasis on infrastructure reflects the administration’s broader argument that savings and resources generated through economic reforms should ultimately translate into productive investments.

For Nigerians, however, the performance of the petroleum sector remains particularly significant because fuel availability and prices continue to have a direct impact on transportation, businesses and household expenses.

A functioning domestic refining system could reduce the country’s reliance on imported petroleum products and potentially improve supply security, although the eventual effect on prices would depend on production costs, crude supply, distribution and market conditions.

Tinubu urges wider CNG benefits

Tinubu also urged NUPENG to help ensure that the benefits of the Federal Government’s Compressed Natural Gas initiative reach ordinary Nigerians more quickly.

The president expressed concern that the gains from CNG adoption were being concentrated among truck owners rather than spreading sufficiently to everyday commuters.

“Whatever benefit that is coming from CNG is going to the pockets of truck owners,” he said. “It’s not spreading as fast as I would like it, but it should spread.”

The concern reflects the administration’s wider objective of using Nigeria’s abundant gas resources to reduce transportation costs and cushion the impact of petrol-related expenses.

For the initiative to have a meaningful effect on households, wider availability of CNG-powered vehicles, conversion infrastructure and refuelling stations will be essential.

The president’s appeal to NUPENG also places organised labour within the administration’s effort to broaden public support for the energy transition and economic reforms.

A call for patience and support

Tinubu thanked NUPENG for its cooperation and urged the union and Nigerians to continue supporting democratic institutions and the reform programme.

He acknowledged the sacrifices associated with the changes but maintained that the country would ultimately benefit from the measures.

“You will enjoy better Nigeria,” the president told the NUPENG leadership.

The refinery pledge therefore comes against the backdrop of a broader challenge facing the administration: turning major energy assets and policy reforms into tangible benefits that Nigerians can see in their daily lives.

For the refineries, the test will not simply be whether their facilities can resume operations.

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As Tinubu himself stressed, their lasting measure of success will be whether they can operate efficiently, generate value and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s energy security.