Expose The Rot! ADC Demands Full Probe Before Any Refinery Deal

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for a comprehensive audit of Nigeria’s refineries, following reports that nearly $18 billion has been spent by successive governments on their rehabilitation—with little to show for it.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary and Coalition Spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed deep concern over the state of the refineries and the federal government’s recent decision to proceed with full privatisation.

The party questioned the Tinubu administration’s sincerity, especially after spending over $2.8 billion on the facilities, only to later declare them moribund. The ADC argued that this contradiction raises serious doubts about transparency, accountability, and the real intent behind government actions.

“It’s puzzling,” the statement said, “that after claiming the refineries—especially those in Port Harcourt and Warri—had resumed partial operations, the government is now planning to sell them off. This flip-flop raises red flags.”

The ADC alleged that the so-called turnaround maintenance of the refineries has merely served to enrich a few, rather than improve production or reduce reliance on imported fuel. The party warned that rushing to sell the refineries under such circumstances creates room for corruption, including asset undervaluation and cronyism.

“The ADC demands an independent, full-scope audit—covering financial, technical, and structural aspects—before any further steps towards privatisation,” Abdullahi stated. “Without such scrutiny, selling the refineries would amount to legitimizing years of waste, mismanagement, and possibly fraud.”

Citing Dangote Refinery as the only functioning alternative, the ADC echoed sentiments that Nigeria’s state-owned refineries have become obsolete, poorly managed, and a drain on public resources. The party emphasized that if privatisation was always the end goal, then previous rehabilitation efforts were either grossly misguided or deliberately deceptive.

The ADC insisted that a forensic audit of all funds spent since 2010 must precede any sale, and that the findings be made public through a National Assembly hearing involving civil society, energy experts, and anti-graft bodies.

“This is not just about money—it’s about trust,” the statement concluded. “Any attempt to sell the refineries without full disclosure and public accountability is not just questionable—it’s criminal. The ADC will resist any backdoor sale of our national assets disguised as reform.”