Energy expert and scholar, Dr Joseph Obele, has called on the Federal Government and the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to urgently restart Nigeria’s government-owned refineries as a direct response to the rising cost of petroleum products.
Obele, who is also the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), made this known in a press statement issued on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
He said the immediate and practical approach to addressing the current increase in petroleum prices is to restore production at the government-owned refineries and maximise every available refining capacity in the country.
The call comes as rising international crude oil prices and concerns around supply disruptions continue to put pressure on petroleum prices in Nigeria.
Dr Obele said restoring functional government-owned refining capacity would increase domestic supply, reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products, and contribute to greater stability in the downstream petroleum market.
Obele also urged Nigeria to maximise all available refining capacity while continuing to encourage responsible private-sector investment and healthy competition within the downstream petroleum industry.
Obele expressed concern over the continued rise in crude oil prices amid the ongoing tensions involving the United States and Iran and concerns around the Strait of Hormuz, warning that sustained supply risks could continue to put pressure on global petroleum prices.
He noted that Brent crude closed at about $105.83 per barrel on September 16, 2026, while WTI closed at about $102.43 per barrel.
Obele said the prolonged dormancy of government-owned refineries has also had economic and employment implications across the petroleum value chain, affecting workers, contractors, marketers, transporters, businesses, and other dependants of the sector.
Obele stated that petroleum-sector workers and other stakeholders would vote based on the status of the refineries, claiming that two million votes are anchored on the government-owned facilities.
He said these citizens had been directly and indirectly affected through the impact of the refineries on employment, business activities, petroleum supply, and the cost of living.
Obele also said restarting the refinery before the 2027 general elections would be significant for Nigeria’s energy security and public confidence in the Federal Government’s commitment to reviving critical national assets.
PETROAN had in March this year warned that the pump price of petrol could hit N2,000 per litre amid the ongoing Middle East tension.
The association urged NNPCL to urgently strengthen domestic refining capacity as a strategic step to shield Nigeria from global petroleum market shocks.
The latest call comes as petrol prices continue to rise amid elevated international crude oil prices and concerns over global petroleum supply.
