Former Bayelsa East Senator, Ben Murray Bruce, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intensify efforts to revive Nigeria’s refineries, arguing that a stronger domestic refining industry remains critical to reducing the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
Murray Bruce’s appeal comes amid continuing discussions over Nigeria’s fuel supply, domestic refining capacity and the impact of petroleum prices on households and businesses.
The former lawmaker, who has remained vocal on economic and national development issues, believes Nigeria should make greater use of its crude oil resources by ensuring that more of the country’s petroleum is refined locally rather than relying heavily on imported products.
His position reflects a longstanding debate over Nigeria’s petroleum industry. For decades, the country has produced crude oil in significant quantities while struggling to maintain its government owned refineries at efficient operating levels. The situation has contributed to Nigeria’s historical dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
Recent developments, however, indicate that domestic refining is becoming increasingly important to the Nigerian petroleum market.
Data reported showed that domestic refinery receipts accounted for a substantial share of petrol supplied to the Nigerian market during the first half of 2026. The figures also showed the growing contribution of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which recorded average capacity utilisation above 100 per cent in June and supplied millions of litres of petrol to the domestic market.
Murray Bruce’s call therefore comes at a time when Nigeria’s energy sector is undergoing major changes.
The government has been encouraging greater domestic refining as part of broader efforts to reduce exposure to international fuel markets, conserve foreign exchange and strengthen energy security.
For many Nigerians, the question of refinery performance is closely connected to the price and availability of petrol. Changes in global crude oil prices, exchange rates, transportation costs and domestic supply can all affect the eventual price paid by consumers.
The former senator has previously spoken strongly about the need for Nigeria to develop its energy infrastructure rather than continue depending on imported petroleum products. His views on the issue date back several years, when he argued that the country needed to address the underlying problems affecting its refineries and encourage greater private sector participation in the petroleum industry.
Murray Bruce’s latest intervention also highlights the broader economic importance of functional refineries.
A well developed refining industry could create jobs, stimulate investment, support related industries and reduce the amount of foreign exchange spent on importing refined petroleum products.
It could also strengthen Nigeria’s position as an oil producing nation by allowing the country to capture more value from its natural resources.
Instead of exporting crude oil and buying back finished petroleum products, increased local refining would enable more stages of the petroleum value chain to take place within Nigeria.
That could have implications beyond petrol.
A stronger refining sector could support the domestic supply of diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene and petrochemical feedstocks needed by different industries.
Manufacturers, transport operators, airlines and other businesses all depend on reliable energy supplies, meaning improvements in the petroleum sector could potentially have wider effects on economic activity.
Nigeria’s refining landscape has changed considerably with the emergence of large private refining projects. The Dangote refinery has become a major player in the domestic petroleum market, while efforts have also continued around existing government owned facilities.
The challenge now is ensuring that increased refining capacity translates into a stable and affordable supply of petroleum products for Nigerians.
This is particularly important as petrol prices remain considerably higher than they were before the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023.
According to recent NMDPRA data reported by The PUNCH, Nigeria consumed about 9.316 billion litres of petrol between January and June 2026, representing a decline of approximately 52 million litres compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
The decline occurred even as domestic refining expanded, suggesting that price levels and changing consumption patterns are also influencing demand.
For Murray Bruce, however, the long term objective should remain clear: Nigeria must build an energy system capable of supporting its population and economy without excessive dependence on external supply.
His appeal to President Tinubu places the issue of refinery rehabilitation and domestic energy production firmly back in the national conversation.
As Nigeria continues to implement reforms in the petroleum sector, attention will remain focused on whether existing refineries can achieve sustainable operations, whether private refineries can consistently meet domestic demand and whether consumers will eventually benefit through improved supply and more competitive prices.
The success of these efforts could have far reaching consequences for the Nigerian economy.
For a country with some of Africa’s largest oil reserves, developing a reliable domestic refining industry remains one of the most important steps towards ensuring that its petroleum wealth generates greater value at home.
Murray Bruce’s latest call is therefore not simply about getting refineries to operate. It is also about changing how Nigeria manages its natural resources, strengthening energy security and ensuring that the country’s oil wealth contributes more directly to the everyday lives of its citizens.
