Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate listing of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) on the stock exchange, as required by the Petroleum Industry Act. He criticized the decision to hand over the Warri and Kaduna refineries to private operators, citing concerns about transparency and corporate governance.

Atiku argued that the NNPCL's claim of being a private company is misleading, as it remains heavily influenced by the government. He questioned the independence of the NNPCL, given its continued involvement in subsidy payments.

Atiku also expressed skepticism about the success of the refineries' privatization, citing past failures and lack of transparency in contract awards. He emphasized the need for involvement from the Bureau of Public Enterprise and a credible technical partner.

He further highlighted the failure of previous arrangements, including the Manitoba Hydro International and Global Steel Limited deals, and questioned the feasibility of the current plan.

Atiku warned against opaque contract processes, citing the dubious deal involving OVH last year, which failed to improve petrol sufficiency and was marred by corruption. He advised the NNPCL to ensure transparency in its dealings to avoid similar failures.