The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has advised the Federal Government to sell the Port Harcourt refinery along with three other refineries operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in 2026. The group believes that private sector control will improve efficiency and reduce the burden on government resources.

PETROAN said years of heavy spending on repairs and maintenance have not delivered strong results, as most of the refineries are still not producing at full capacity. According to the association, selling the facilities to credible investors would help attract fresh capital, modern technology, and better management practices.

The marketers also argued that privatisation would create a more competitive downstream oil sector, leading to better fuel supply and possibly lower costs for consumers. They added that government should focus more on regulation and oversight, rather than running commercial businesses that the private sector can handle better.

However, the proposal has sparked mixed reactions, with some stakeholders warning that selling national assets must be done transparently to avoid corruption and monopoly control. PETROAN stressed that any sale process should be open, fair, and designed to protect national interests while encouraging economic growth.