The House of Representatives has attributed the delay in its investigation into the $18 billion reportedly spent on rehabilitating Nigeria’s state-owned refineries to the alleged non-cooperation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the National Assembly would take a firm position on the matter after the 2026 budget is passed.

In October 2025, the House directed committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream), Gas Resources, and Public Assets to probe funds allocated for the refurbishment of the country’s four refineries – two in Port Harcourt, one in Warri, and one in Kaduna.

The investigation followed a motion raised by Sesi Whingan, the representative for Badagry Federal Constituency in Lagos State. Whingan questioned why the refineries remain largely non-functional despite huge investments in maintenance and rehabilitation over the years.

“Despite consistent budgetary allocations, there is no verifiable evidence of substantial rehabilitation outcomes,” Whingan said, describing the situation as a misuse of public funds and a betrayal of public trust.

The issue gained renewed attention after billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote stated that about $18 billion had been spent on attempts to revive the refineries without meaningful results.

Although the committees were initially given four weeks to submit their reports, the probe remains incomplete months later. Ugochinyere said the delay is due to NNPC’s lack of cooperation, adding that decisive action would follow the budget passage.

Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries have long struggled with ageing infrastructure, operational inefficiencies, and frequent shutdowns. Despite billions of dollars spent on turnaround maintenance, the facilities remain largely dormant, fueling public concerns about mismanagement and accountability in the petroleum sector.

Lawmakers have stressed that the outcome of the investigation is crucial for improving transparency and efficiency in the management of the country’s refining assets, especially as Nigeria continues to rely heavily on imported fuel despite being a major crude oil producer.