The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the prolonged delays affecting the rehabilitation of key Nigerian refineries, including the 210,000 barrels-per-day Port Harcourt Refinery and the Warri and Kaduna Refineries.

In a statement released on Monday by PETROAN spokesperson Joseph Obele, quoting National President Billy Gillis-Harry, the association expressed concern over the continued postponement of completion dates for these critical national assets.

The petroleum retailers emphasized that these delays have significantly impacted fuel price stability and Nigeria's broader economic performance, calling for immediate presidential attention to the matter.

"PETROAN therefore demands that the NNPC provide a specific and realistic timeline for the completion and commissioning of these refineries, especially the second Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation project," the statement partly reads.

According to Gillis-Harry, the complete rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery would serve approximately 13 states in the System 2E area and "reduce the cost of logistics/transportation of petroleum products from Lagos to the System 2E areas."

The association insisted that Nigerians and industry stakeholders deserve clarity on when they can expect the refineries to commence operations and help alleviate the nation's persistent fuel scarcity challenges.

"We call on the relevant authorities to ensure that the NNPC adheres strictly to the contract timeline, once provided, and maintains regular communication with stakeholders on the project's progress," PETROAN stated.

The statement comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding the actual petroleum production capacity of the revamped refineries. Former Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, had previously announced the completion of sections of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries before his removal from office in April by President Tinubu, along with other board members.

Kyari's dismissal had prompted calls for investigations into alleged mismanagement of funds under his leadership, though reactions to potential probes have been mixed among industry observers and stakeholders.

The rehabilitation of Nigeria's refineries remains a critical component of the government's strategy to achieve energy security and reduce the nation's dependence on imported refined petroleum products.