HURIWA Demands Probe Into $2bn Refinery Spending After Fresh Petrol Price Hike

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the latest increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, and demanded a forensic audit of funds reportedly spent on rehabilitating Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.

The rights group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, on Wednesday, described the latest petrol price increase as insensitive to Nigerians struggling with rising living costs.

The statement followed the decision by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to increase its petrol gantry price from ₦1,185 to ₦1,200 per litre, effective August 26, 2026.

HURIWA questioned the timing of the increase, arguing that it came despite what it described as a significant decline in international crude oil prices.

The organisation also turned its attention to the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over the prolonged failure of Nigeria’s publicly owned refineries to operate at full capacity.

According to HURIWA, Nigerians continue to bear the impact of higher petrol prices while billions of dollars reportedly committed to refinery rehabilitation have failed to deliver consistently functional facilities.

The group is therefore demanding an independent and transparent forensic audit of the funds spent on the rehabilitation and turnaround maintenance of the country’s refineries.

It specifically called on the Federal Government to disclose how the reported expenditure of more than $2 billion was utilised, including the contracts awarded, companies that received the funds, work carried out and the reasons the refineries have remained largely non-functional.

HURIWA further called for criminal investigations where evidence of fraud, corruption or diversion of public funds emerges.

It said anyone found responsible for mismanaging or diverting public resources should be prosecuted and made to return recoverable funds to the treasury.

The rights group also opposed any fresh round of massive government spending on the public refineries without first accounting for previous expenditure.

According to HURIWA, the continued failure of government-owned refineries has increased Nigeria’s dependence on private refining capacity and raised concerns about competition and pricing within the downstream petroleum sector.

While acknowledging the importance of private investment, the organisation said Nigerians should not become excessively dependent on a single dominant player because government-owned facilities have failed to function after years of rehabilitation spending.

HURIWA consequently called on the Federal Government and petroleum regulators to ensure that petrol pricing remains transparent, competitive and subject to effective oversight.

The group warned that increases in petrol prices have consequences beyond the filling station, as higher fuel costs feed directly into transportation, food prices, manufacturing, business operations and household expenses.

“At a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling with multidimensional poverty,” HURIWA said, government policies should prioritise economic relief, transparency and social protection rather than further reducing household purchasing power.

Among its demands, the organisation wants an immediate explanation for the latest petrol price increase, a comprehensive forensic audit of all funds spent on the rehabilitation of public refineries, and the publication of contracts, payments and project reports relating to the turnaround maintenance projects.

It also called for the investigation and prosecution of anyone found to have mismanaged public funds, recovery of misappropriated money and stronger regulatory measures to prevent market abuse in the downstream petroleum sector.

HURIWA said the government must recognise that Nigerians cannot continue to bear the burden of institutional failures and alleged financial mismanagement in the petroleum sector.

The organisation gave the Federal Government until 1pm on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, to respond to its demands and provide explanations regarding the latest petrol price increase and expenditure on the country’s public refineries.

HURIWA maintained that Nigeria’s petroleum resources belong to the Nigerian people and that the management of the sector must be guided by transparency, accountability and the public interest.

The statement was signed by Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA.