Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum, says Nigerians should hold him accountable “for every dollar, every cent” spent on the Port Harcourt refinery.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari wants to leave behind a legacy of functional refineries for Nigerians.
Nigeria has four refineries — two in Port Harcourt and one each in Kaduna and Warri — with a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day. All four refineries are non-functional, after being shut down in 2020.
On Wednesday, the federal executive council (FEC) meeting approved $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.
The approval has since elicited critical reactions from various quarters, particularly from notable Nigerians like Atedo Peterside, Peter Obi, and Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking on Sunday during a Channels Television programme, Sylva said the Buhari administration means well.
“They (Nigerians) can hold me accountable and hold this government accountable for every dollar, every cent on this refinery and ensure that we deliver a refinery that works,” he said.
“What President Muhammadu Buhari wants to leave as a legacy are refineries that are functional.
“That is really where we are looking at because what is going to happen to those refineries will be decided by Nigerians and future administration.”
