Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, has commended the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, for what it described as a transformative first year in office marked by reforms, transparency, and improved operational efficiency.
PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, said the past year has witnessed “significant strides in governance, accountability, and commercial discipline,” noting that structured financial and operational reporting has enhanced stakeholder confidence.
“The renewed emphasis on transparency and accountability, including the publication of operational and financial reports, represents a major shift towards global best practices,” he said, adding that the reforms have helped rebuild trust among investors and industry players.
However, the association stressed that sustaining the momentum would require urgent action on critical sector challenges, particularly the operationalisation of Nigeria’s government-owned refineries.
PETROAN noted that “the timely operationalisation of these refineries remains critical to achieving energy security and reducing the nation’s dependence on imported petroleum products,” calling for immediate commencement of production at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
While acknowledging improvements in product availability and distribution, the association flagged lingering concerns around pricing stability and supply consistency, urging deeper engagement with downstream stakeholders.
“We encourage sustained engagement with industry players to ensure that the benefits of these reforms are fully felt at the retail end,” Gillis-Harry stated.
The association also called for enhanced collaboration in areas such as product allocation, logistics, and infrastructure development, stressing that inclusiveness in policy implementation would improve efficiency across the value chain.
Describing Ojulari’s first year as “a defining period,” PETROAN said the NNPC Ltd leadership must now consolidate gains through stakeholder-driven policies and stronger pipeline security to boost crude production.
The group further urged the NNPC boss to undertake on-site visits to key refineries and increase crude supply to local processors, noting that such steps would help stabilise the downstream sector and support long-term growth.
