By Mary Izuaka

 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) said it has not issued any request for bids, tenders, expressions of interest, or approvals for the sale of scrap materials, refinery components, or any items from the warehouses or inventories of any of its refineries.

The chief corporate communications officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, in a statement earlier on Friday, made this known in reaction to a report suggesting that the company is selling scrap materials, equipment, or components from its refineries to individuals and private companies.

But in its reaction, the NNPC said the information is “untrue”.

NNPC Ltd said it also received reports that certain individuals are falsely presenting themselves as representatives or agents of the company, claiming to facilitate the sale of so-called “scrap metals” or refinery equipment.

“These individuals are not authorised by NNPC Limited and are attempting to mislead members of the public.”

NNPC advised the public, corporate organisations, and industry stakeholders to disregard any such claims or solicitations and to exercise caution in dealing with anyone making such representations.

“For the avoidance of doubt, NNPC Limited is not conducting, nor has it authorised, any sale of scrap metals, equipment, or refinery components from any of its facilities,” the statement said.

READ ALSO: Why Nigeria’s refineries were shutdown – NNPC

Mr Odeh said any legitimate disposal of assets by NNPC Ltd will only be conducted through established and transparent processes, publicly communicated through the company’s official channels and in accordance with applicable regulations.

“Members of the public who encounter individuals or entities making such claims are encouraged to report the matter to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

“NNPC Limited remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the responsible management of national energy assets,”the statement said.

Nigeria has four state-run refineries, including two in Port Harcourt, which together form the Port Harcourt Refining Company, with a combined installed capacity of 210,000 barrels per day (bpd).

The Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited has an installed capacity of 110,000 bpd, while the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited has an installed capacity of 125,000 bpd.

All the four refineries have a combined installed capacity of 445,000 bpd.

The Warri Refinery, which was reopened in December 2024, shut down in January last year on account of safety issues. In May 2025, NNPC Ltd announced an outage at the Port Harcourt Refinery, preparatory to scheduled maintenance.

In February, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, said the state-owned refineries were shut down because they were not commercially viable in their current condition.