By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Convener of ActionAid Nigeria’s General Assembly, Dr. Steve Onya, on Saturday in Abuja called on the federal government to publish the full cost, scope, and schedule of the $1.5 billion Port Harcourt refinery overhaul.
He said, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) must account for every dollar spent on the Port Harcourt refinery, as the public deserves clarity, not press statements riddled with technical excuses.”
The organisation questioned why the refinery was recommissioned in November 2024 only to be shut down six months later for “planned maintenance,” describing it as a sign of incompetence, mismanagement, and lack of transparency.
Chairperson of the ActionAid Nigeria board of directors, Rabi Isma, who read the press statement, also urged the federal and state governments to implement full fiscal autonomy for Local Government Areas to ensure transparent and timely disbursement of monthly allocations.
Dr. Onya added, “Despite two years of the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, millions still face daily hardship. Insecurity, hunger, and inflation continue to rise. The government’s food security declaration has yet to lead to meaningful budgetary or strategic changes.”
The organisation raised concerns about rising violence in Plateau and Benue States and called for a full-scale security emergency to protect farmers and rebuild rural livelihoods.
It further recommended reforms in security, education, and health, and demanded the prompt release of the unedited NDDC forensic audit to restore public trust.
“Transparency, accountability, and urgent intervention are not optional — they are the only way to reverse Nigeria’s current trajectory,” Dr. Onya stressed.