The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) on Thursday commended President Bola Tinubu for the successful revitalisation of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

NSE’s president, Margaret Aina, in a statement in Lagos, said the revitalisation of the refinery marked a pivotal step towards enhancing Nigeria’s energy security and economic growth.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, announced the Port Harcourt refinery’s resumption of operations following comprehensive rehabilitation.

With an initial processing capacity of 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the project is set to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products and strengthen local refining capabilities.

Mrs Aina, also an engineer, commended the Federal Government’s commitment to rejuvenating vital infrastructure.

She said, “The reopening of the Port Harcourt Refinery underscores the government’s dedication to achieving self-sufficiency in petroleum refining and enhancing Nigeria’s energy independence.

The NSE president highlighted the vital contribution of Nigerian engineers to the success of the project.

According to Mrs Aina, the milestone underscores the exceptional expertise and dedication of Nigerian engineers, showcasing Nigeria engineers’ capacity to deliver large-scale, impactful projects.

She added that this served as an inspiration to the engineering community at large.

Mrs Aina expressed confidence that the rehabilitation of the refinery would spur further growth in Nigeria’s industrial sector, generating job opportunities, promoting economic diversification, and enhancing local capacity.

She reaffirmed the dedication of the society to promoting engineering excellence and supporting initiatives that harness Nigerian talent for sustainable national development.

“This significant achievement exemplifies the power of collaboration among government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and professional bodies in driving the nation’s development forward,” she said.