President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) that Nigeria’s government-owned refineries will return to operation and become commercially viable.

Tinubu gave the assurance on Thursday, August 13, 2026, when he received the newly elected NUPENG leadership, led by its National Executive President, Salimon Akanni Oladiti, at the State House in Abuja.

Tinubu Addresses Refinery Concerns

Speaking during the meeting, Tinubu said the refineries would resume operations but stressed that visible signs of activity alone should not be considered proof of success.

“The refineries you mentioned will come back to work. The ordinary flame and smoke of a refinery doesn’t mean it’s working until it’s profitable and yields the value for which it was built,” the president said.

His comments were captured in video footage from the meeting and circulated widely online.

Government Targets Commercial Viability

Nigeria’s major government-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna have faced years of operational challenges, including prolonged shutdowns, rehabilitation costs and inconsistent output.

The Tinubu administration has pursued reforms aimed at improving domestic refining capacity while supporting private-sector investments, including the Dangote Refinery.

The government has also continued efforts to restore the state-owned facilities and improve their operational performance.

NUPENG Meets President

The meeting with NUPENG forms part of ongoing engagement between the Federal Government and key stakeholders in the petroleum industry.

The administration has repeatedly linked increased domestic refining capacity to reduced dependence on imported petroleum products and greater economic value from Nigeria’s oil resources.