The presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the 2023 general elections, Sani Yusuf Yabagi, has criticised the state of Nigeria’s oil refining sector, describing it as a costly failure despite years of heavy investment.
Yabagi made the remarks in an interview with The Sun on Sunday, April 19, 2026, where he assessed the country’s fuel challenges and broader energy policy. According to him, the continued inability of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries to produce petroleum products raises serious questions about governance and resource management.
“We spent billions of dollar on 4 refinery none is producing and Tinubu didn’t see wrong in that,” he said.
His comments come amid ongoing public concern over fuel supply, pricing, and the country’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products despite being a major crude oil producer.
Yabagi noted that Nigeria has four government-owned refineries, built and maintained over the years with significant financial investments. However, he lamented that none of them is currently producing petrol at a meaningful scale, a situation he described as unacceptable.
According to him, the failure of these refineries represents a systemic problem that has persisted across multiple administrations. He argued that despite repeated promises of rehabilitation and revival, the facilities have remained largely inactive, placing additional strain on the nation’s economy.
“This is not just about infrastructure; it is about accountability. How do you invest such huge amounts and still have nothing to show for it?” he queried.
While criticising the state of public refineries, Yabagi acknowledged the role of the Dangote Refinery in easing fuel supply pressures. He suggested that the presence of the privately-owned facility has helped cushion the impact of what could have been a more severe fuel crisis.
“Without the Dangote Refinery, the situation would have been far worse than what we are experiencing today,” he stated.
He explained that the refinery has contributed to improving local supply and reducing dependence on imports, even though broader challenges in the sector persist.
Yabagi further argued that Nigeria’s overreliance on imported fuel, despite its oil wealth, reflects deeper structural issues within the country’s energy policy. He maintained that strengthening domestic refining capacity should be a top priority for the government.
He also questioned what he described as a lack of urgency from the current administration under Bola Ahmed Tinubu in addressing the situation. According to him, the continued dysfunction of public refineries should be treated as a national emergency requiring immediate and decisive action.
“This is a country blessed with resources, yet we are unable to refine what we produce. That is a fundamental problem,” he added.
The ADP chieftain called for greater transparency in the management of the oil sector, urging authorities to provide clear explanations on how funds allocated to refinery projects have been utilised over the years.
SOURCE: MZCrowns