NEWS
Renaissance Boss Backs Domestic Refining, Against Crude Exports
It has come to the fore that the continued export of crude oil while refined petroleum products are imported contradicts Nigeria’s local content goals and limits value creation within the country.
This view was shared on Thursday at an online lecture organised by the Nigerian Content Academy of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board on, ‘Finding Funds For Effective & Efficient Local Content Initiatives – IPPG Perspective’, by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy, Tony Attah.
He frowned at the traditional model adopted by international oil companies, noting that crude oil is produced in Nigeria and exported, while the value from refining is created in other countries.
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According to him, the prevailing system reflects the characteristics of an extractive industry, where resources are taken out without building domestic capacity for processing and industrial development.
“But what do we do today with the business model that the IOC has had? They produce and take the crude out. That’s why it’s called an extractive industry. But they take the crude out and create value in their respective countries,” he said.
Attah said the adoption of a similar model by independent oil producers undermines local content policy. Attah explained that the practice of exporting crude for foreign refineries to process is inconsistent with the objectives of Nigerian content development, which seeks to build capacity and encourage in-country value addition.
Attah said there is a transformation as local firms gradually take over the nation’s energy sector. He recalled how Renaissance Africa lowered Shell’s flag to fly its own after the divestment that took place in 2024. He also commended the Dangote refinery, saying the plant has led to the shutdown of various refineries in Europe.
“So, to expect the transformation that I referred to with Nigerian independence taking over, to continue with that model of — ‘produce and take the barrels out for someone else to create value’ — is not consistent with the Nigerian content where we are looking to create capacity and domestication in-country. That is why I feel very proud of Aradel and Waltersmith refineries and, in fact, even more so with the one Dangote has built.
“The Dangote refinery has disrupted the entire world. If you Google it, you will see how many refineries are shut down in Europe just because of one man’s dream, one man’s ambition, which, when you speak to him, he tells you about the belief. But he will tell you that there were several times in the course of pushing that ambition that he doubted himself, but he just had the courage to keep going,” he said.
He noted that local refining offers a more sustainable path for economic growth, as it enables Nigeria to capture greater value from its resources and strengthens domestic industrial capabilities.
Attah also expressed pride in emerging local refining initiatives, which he said demonstrate the benefits of processing crude domestically rather than exporting it in raw form.
Beyond refining, he emphasised the need for a balanced energy mix, stating that while renewable energy is important, it cannot alone meet Africa’s growing energy demand. He noted that global events, including geopolitical conflicts, have exposed the fragility of energy systems and highlighted the continued relevance of fossil fuels in ensuring energy security.
Attah said energy has always been in transition, evolving from manpower to kerosene, crude oil, gas, and now renewables, stressing that Africa must adopt a pragmatic approach that incorporates multiple energy sources.
He warned that Nigeria’s rapidly growing population would significantly increase energy demand, noting that the country’s population is projected to rise from over 200 million to more than 400 million by 2050.
The Renaissance Africa Energy chief also highlighted the gap between Nigeria’s population and power generation, observing that more than 200 million people rely on roughly 5,000 megawatts of electricity. He suggested that distributed energy solutions such as solar panels, batteries and inverters at the household level could help bridge supply gaps over time.
On financing local content initiatives, Attah stressed that investors prioritise governance structure, clarity of business model, and risk management. He explained that financiers typically require equity contributions, strong collateral, and credible project structures before committing funds.
According to him, Africa must also develop its own financing capacity, as reliance on external funding often leaves projects vulnerable during global economic shocks. He pointed to the creation of an African energy financing institution as a step towards addressing funding challenges on the continent.
Attah added that companies seeking investment must demonstrate bankability, cost efficiency, and strong governance to attract capital. He also urged African countries to strengthen intra-continental trade, noting that the continent often does more business with external markets than within itself.
Attah said building domestic refining capacity and strengthening local content initiatives would help Africa retain value, create jobs, and enhance energy security.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) to court over the oil major’s failure to account for approximately ₦5.9 billion expended its incorporation, transition and rebranding from the NNPC into NNPC Ltd.
According to the SERAP, the NNPC Ltd paid over ₦2.9 billion for incorporation expenses from petroleum product proceeds, while the National Petroleum Investment Management Services also charged a similar amount against the crude oil revenue for the same purpose, bringing the total to ₦5.9 billion.
Consequently, the organisation is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPCL to account for about ₦5.9 billion allegedly spent on the rebranding of the NNPC to the NNPCL.”
It is also asking the court to “direct and compel the NNPCL to provide a comprehensive reconciliation statement detailing the specific financial transactions relating to the ₦5.9 billion expenditure, including the identities of the contractors involved, and how the funds were utilised for the rebranding of NNPC to NNPCL.”
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The SERAP further asked the court to “direct and compel the NNPCL to disclose the names and official positions of the government officials who authorized and approved the release and expenditure of the ₦5.9 billion reportedly spent on the rebranding of NNPC to NNPCL, and to clarify whether the expenditure complied with applicable procurement laws and due-process requirements.”
The order of mandamus is contained in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1248/2026 filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the NGO’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
Filed on behalf of the SERAP by its lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, the suit also noted that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts reportedly raised concerns over the expenditure described as incorporation and transition costs during the transformation process.
“The Committee described the spending of the ₦5.9 billion as excessive, unjustifiable, and deserving of further explanation, investigation, and legislative scrutiny in the public interest,” the SERAP noted.
The SERAP argued that there is a legitimate public interest in the disclosure of the details sought.
“The NNPCL has a legal responsibility to explain whether the ₦5.9 billion expenditure represents value for money, constitutes lawful spending of public funds, and complies with applicable due process requirements.
“There ought to be full transparency and accountability regarding the reported ₦5.9 billion spent on rebranding NNPC to NNPCL. Nigerians have the right to know who approved the expenditure, who received the funds, the nature of the services rendered, and whether due process and procurement requirements were strictly followed,
“The disclosure of the identities of the officials involved and the processes followed in approving the expenditure would enable the public to assess whether the expenditure was properly authorized, represented value for money, and was undertaken in accordance with due process and procurement requirements,” it said.
It added that, given the size of the expenditure, there is “an urgent need for a prompt, thorough, and transparent disclosure of the details surrounding the spending of the funds.”
It further stated that “the failure to account for the spending of the ₦5.9 billion on rebranding from NNPC to NNPCL reflects a failure of NNPCL accountability more generally and is directly linked to the institution’s continuing failure to uphold transparency and accountability principles.”
The SERAP added that the transformation of the national oil company from the NNPC to the NNPC Ltd followed the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which required it to become a commercially oriented limited liability company fully owned by the federal government.
It also cited constitutional and international provisions, including Section 13 and Section 15(5) of the Constitution, as well as Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption and Article 21 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to support its arguments.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
The attention of the Osun State Government has been drawn to a statement by the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola, accusing Governor Ademola Adeleke of marginalising Muslims in his administration.
The State Government in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi charged Professor Akintola to be guided by the Quran and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad in his engagement with the Osun State Government.
“We believe Professor Akintola acted on misinformation or he is actively an agent of misinformation. Governor Adeleke is a strong believer who relates well with people of all faiths, in line with the inclusive leadership example of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). His administration has appointed qualified Muslims to key positions.
For the record, Governor Adeleke appointed Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye as Secretary to the State Government and Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, a student of Sheikh Kamaludeen Al-Adabiyy in Ilorin, as Chief of Staff. His Spokesperson is a known Mallam of Tijaniya extraction. The Commissioner for Information is alone a deep muslim of Al-Adabiyy extraction. Several other Muslims are also serving as commissioners and heads of agencies, alongside qualified appointees of other faiths.
This administration commenced construction of the Osun Hajj Camp, ending Osun’s status as the only Southwest state without one. The governor also approved a mosque in the Government House for Muslim staff.
We urge Professor Akintola to verify facts before going public, as admonished in Qur’an 49:6.
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He should also assess government performance using verifiable data on budget execution, debt management by the DMO, and healthcare, where Osun was rated best in the Southwest for primary healthcare in 2024 and 2025.
Elections should be about jobs, security, infrastructure, healthcare, and education, not identity politics.
“We expect MURIC to judge this administration by its record of service to all citizens, Muslim and non-Muslim alike”.
Rather than feign his political attack with religious coloration, Professor Akintola should be courageous to declare his partisan interest in the opposition APC and stop using religion to do hatchet job politics.
We challenge MURIC to openly condemn the shooting of law-abiding residents (Muslims and non Muslims) of the state by APC thugs in branded APC campaign vehicles in Ile-Ife, Akoda, Owode-Ede and Osogbo, to disprove the allegation that he’s been paid by the opposition to attack Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Rather than spreading baseless misinformation, we are also of the opinion that MURIC should be more interested in cases like the sudden addition of ‘Munirudeen’ to the names of the Osun APC Governorship candidate, a name which was missing from his primary, secondary and university certificates.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has explained the reason behind the suspension of the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course for prospective corps members deployed to Niger State.
In a notice shared on its official X account on Sunday, the scheme said the orientation exercise was put on hold due to ongoing renovation work at the state’s orientation camp.
According to the NYSC, the temporary suspension affects all prospective corps members (PCMs) posted to Niger State for the current orientation programme.
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“This is to notify the General Public and Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) deployed to Niger State for the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course that their Orientation Course Exercise is suspended for now due to ongoing renovation work at the Orientation Camp,” the statement read.
The scheme assured affected corps members that alternative arrangements would be communicated soon, noting that they would be informed of a new reporting date and venue once preparations are completed.
“PCMs affected should note that they will be contacted at a short notice on where and when to report for their Orientation Course,” the NYSC added.
The management also apologised for the inconvenience caused to both the prospective corps members and their parents.
“The Management regrets all inconveniences to the affected PCMs and their parents,” the statement said.
The suspension comes months after a devastating windstorm damaged critical facilities at the NYSC orientation camp in Paiko, located in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The storm reportedly affected several structures, including male hostels, the multipurpose hall, kitchen and staff quarters.
Following the incident, the Niger State Government commenced rehabilitation and renovation works aimed at restoring the camp’s infrastructure to a suitable condition for hosting corps members.
While the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course began nationwide on June 10 and is expected to conclude on June 30, corps members posted to Niger State will now have to await further directives from the NYSC regarding their orientation exercise.
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