President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday congratulated the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited on the successful revitalization of the Port Harcourt refinery.

The Port Harcourt refinery, managed by the NNPCL through Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, has officially commenced operations after undergoing rehabilitation and modernisation.

The refinery with 210,000 bpd refining capacity located at Alesa, Eleme, in Port Harcourt, comprises two operational units established in 1965 and 1989.

In a statement by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tinubu welcomed the development, saying that it would deepen domestic production in the oil sector.

The statement noted, “These efforts will significantly enhance domestic production capacity alongside the contributions of privately-owned refineries and make our country a major energy hub, with the gas sector also enjoying unprecedented attention by the administration.’’

Mr Tinubu acknowledged the pivotal role played by the previous administration while urging the NNPCL to quicken reactivation of other refineries in the country.

He said, “The President acknowledges the pivotal role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all our refineries and expresses gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing this critical project.”

The president further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to energy sufficiency in the country, urging Nigerians to play their part.

“The President underscores his administration’s determination to repair the nation’s refineries, aiming to eradicate the disheartening perception of Nigeria as a major crude oil producer that lacks the ability to refine its own resources for domestic consumption. Highlighting the values of patience, integrity, and accountability in the rebuilding of the nation’s infrastructure, President Tinubu calls upon individuals, institutions, and citizens entrusted with responsibilities to maintain focus and uphold trust in their service to the nation”, the statement indicated.