Former lawmaker, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint bold, competent and results-driven individuals to lead efforts to revive Nigeria’s state-owned refineries and reform the petroleum sector.
Murray-Bruce, popularly known as Mr Common Sense, made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday, stressing the need for decisive leadership to restore the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries to commercially viable operations.
According to him, Nigeria needs more “mad men” — individuals with the courage to confront powerful interests, dismantle dysfunctional systems and deliver measurable results in the oil and gas sector.
The former senator said the petroleum industry requires transformational leadership capable of moving beyond prolonged explanations, technical reviews and repeatedly shifting deadlines.
He urged Tinubu to appoint officials who would ensure that the three government-owned refineries operate reliably and contribute meaningfully to meeting domestic fuel demand.
Murray-Bruce said the refineries should collectively achieve a dependable throughput of at least 325,000 barrels of crude oil per day, which he argued would not only help meet domestic demand but could also enable Nigeria to export refined petroleum products.
He also challenged the President to identify capable officials who could significantly increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and help the country achieve the administration’s target of four million barrels per day by 2030.
Murray-Bruce maintained that achieving these objectives would require competent individuals willing to take difficult decisions and deliver tangible results rather than merely manage existing challenges.
