The Nigerian government has hit back at former President Olusegun Obasanjo after news broke that the Port Harcourt refinery has started operations, with trucks loading Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for the first time. Obasanjo had previously expressed doubts about the possibility of Nigeria’s refineries working under government management. In 2023, he even stated that President Bola Tinubu’s goal to get the refineries operational by December 2024 was unlikely to succeed. This belief was based on information he received from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) during his presidency.

Obasanjo had said, “Someone told me Tinubu said refineries would work by December. I told the person the refineries would not work. This is based on the information I received from Shell when I was president.”

In response, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, reminded Obasanjo that only God has the authority to declare what is achievable or not. He posted on X, calling the Port Harcourt refinery’s success a reminder that with perseverance, determination, and belief in our abilities, we can overcome even the greatest challenges. Onanuga emphasized that limits are often shaped by doubt, and through collective effort and resolve, change is possible.