The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has debunked media reports alleging that the Federal Government was losing over N700 billion annually in revenue through the Kaduna refinery.
The oil corporation also dismissed claims that they had lost N12 billion on remuneration of staff whom, the reports say, were largely idle as the refinery was not functioning.
In a statement, the group’s General Manager Levi Ajuonuma stated that the Kaduna refining and petrochemicals company is functional and viable, contributing immensely towards NNPC’s operations in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
The NNPC spokesman commended Nigerian engineers who have kept it running, adding that the pipeline vandalism has hindered the operation of the refinery beyond its current 60 per cent capacity.
The reports followed last week’s oversight visit to the Kaduna refinery by the Senate Committee on petroleum resources (downstream), which described the refinery as a drain pipe.
