Deji Adeyanju Urges President Tinubu to Strengthen Surveillance Around Revamped Oil Refineries

Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Nigerian Army to increase surveillance around the country’s newly rehabilitated oil refineries. In an open letter to the president, Adeyanju commended Tinubu for the successful rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, highlighting the potential of these refineries to reduce the cost of fuel in the country.

“Recently, the media was awash with news of the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries and the subsequent production of petroleum products from the Port Harcourt refinery,” Adeyanju said. “Following my personal confirmation of the veracity of the stories, I am compelled to publicly commend President Bola Tinubu for rehabilitating the refineries.”

The lawyer emphasized that the revival of the refineries offers hope for reducing fuel prices in Nigeria, which has been grappling with high petroleum costs. “At a time when Nigerians are groaning over the huge cost of petroleum products, especially PMS, it is a huge relief to observe that the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries have come back to life, with the possibility of driving competition that will ultimately bring down the prices of petroleum products across the country,” he stated.

However, Adeyanju also called on the president to take further action to secure the nation’s oil resources. He noted that, despite the positive steps taken in revitalizing the refineries, the Nigerian Navy is overstretched and cannot protect the oil facilities alone. Adeyanju urged the president to direct the Nigerian Army to maintain a heightened presence around the country’s oil facilities to protect them from oil theft and illegal exploitation by non-state actors.

“Having taken steps to revamp the refineries, the President must go further by blocking all illegal exploitation of the nation’s oil resources by non-state actors. It is now obvious that the Nigerian Navy is overstretched and can no longer protect our oil facilities alone,” Adeyanju said.

While praising the president for the rehabilitation of the refineries, Adeyanju emphasized the need for Tinubu to take urgent steps to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians, in line with his campaign promises.