Ben Murray-Bruce Urges Tinubu to Prioritize Refinery Rehabilitation

Former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce issued an open letter and public charge to President Bola Tinubu demanding the appointment of officials he describes as mad men—individuals obsessed with results who are willing to confront entrenched interests. Murray-Bruce cited Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu as examples of the disciplined leadership needed to fix Nigeria's broken systems.

Speaking in Abuja, Murray-Bruce argued that Nigeria's practice of exporting crude oil while importing refined petroleum products drains foreign exchange and causes widespread citizen hardship. He urged the administration to treat the rehabilitation and commercially viable operation of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries as a national obsession. He proposed that the government introduce private capital or restructure these facilities to achieve a minimum throughput of 325,000 barrels per day.

To ensure accountability, Murray-Bruce called for monthly progress reports and the appointment of leadership capable of aggressively increasing crude oil output to meet a national target of 4 million barrels per day by 2030. He asserted that achieving full refining capacity is essential for energy security, economic stability, and job creation for Nigerian youth.