National News – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reignited debate over Nigeria’s struggling oil infrastructure, declaring that the country’s state-owned refineries may never function effectively again.

Speaking during a televised interview aired on Saturday, Obasanjo argued that decades of poor management, corruption, and underinvestment have rendered facilities owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited structurally unviable.

Obasanjo revealed that during his presidency, he approached Shell plc to manage the refineries, even offering equity stakes.

The company declined, reportedly due to low profitability in downstream operations, substandard facility conditions, and governance concerns.

He added that the refineries’ production capacities lag behind global standards, making them commercially weak.

He also revisited a controversial deal involving Aliko Dangote, who had agreed to acquire majority stakes in two refineries for $750 million.

The agreement was later reversed under the administration of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a decision Obasanjo believes cost Nigeria long-term progress.

Locally, reactions remain divided. Some energy analysts in Lagos argue that Obasanjo’s stance reflects reality, pointing to billions spent on rehabilitation with little result.

Others insist that with the right technical partners, reforms by NNPC’s current leadership could still yield results.

The implications are significant. Nigeria’s dependence on fuel imports persists despite its oil wealth, affecting prices, inflation, and energy security.

With the rise of private projects like the Dangote refinery, the debate is shifting toward whether government should fully exit refinery operations.

In practical terms, Obasanjo’s comments challenge policymakers to confront a hard question: reform, privatise, or abandon.

His position may sound definitive, but Nigeria’s energy future likely depends on whether decisive action finally replaces decades of hesitation.