The Nigerian Labour Congress has advised the government against the likely takeover of the Port Harcourt refinery by prominent figures in government.

The union also sought an audit of the refinery and demanded that the federal government eliminate the “elements” that brought about its initial collapse.

NLC’s head of information, Benson Upah, revealed this during an interview in Abuja.

This caution by NLC emerged after the federal government’s announcement of the mechanical completion and flare start of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited on Thursday.

Mr Upah said “Indeed, if it has commenced operation after countless rescheduling, it will be a plus for this government. As you graciously pointed out, we have over the years rooted for domestic refining for obvious advantages; cheaper products, multiplicity of products, jobs, product security/availability and more income.

“Some privileged Nigerians routinely sabotage our local refineries for their personal gains so they could be richer than our country makes Nigeria a paradise of crimes and sins with no redeeming qualities.”

He warned against the repetition of actions that may have led to the initial shutdown, asking for a purge of people, habits and crimes that brought it to its knees in the first place.

“We must also warn against the implementation of devilish designs by an all-too-familiar cabal to start operations, collapse the refineries as inoperable to sell them off as scraps to themselves.”

The national deputy president of the Trade Union Congress, Tommy Etim, said, “I cannot confirm whether it is true until we visit the Port Harcourt refinery as agreed with the Federal Government.”

He added that no date has been fixed for visitation yet.

Minister for petroleum resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, revealed the successful completion during a media tour of the refinery.

“Just to announce to Nigerians the fulfilment of our pledge to bring on stream Phase One of the Port Harcourt refinery by the end of 2023 and the subsequent streaming of Phase Two in 2024. We happily announced the mechanical completion and flare start-off on the 20th of December 2023,” Mr Lokpobiri said on Thursday.

The Port Harcourt refinery encompasses two units, an old plant having a refining capacity of 60,000 barrels per day and the new plant 150,000 bpd, totaling 210,000 bpd.

In March 2019, the facility shut down activities for the first phase of repair works after the government procured the services of Italy’s Maire Tecnimont to handle the review of the refinery complex.

The minister disclosed on Thursday that production of petroleum products at the refinery would commence after the Christmas break.