The first oil refinery in Nigeria was established at

Analyze the question: It asks where Nigeria's first oil refinery was established. Be careful: this is about a refinery (where crude oil is processed), not where oil was first discovered.

Explain the concept:

• Oloibiri (Bayelsa State) is where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in 1956. Shell-BP drilled the first well there. This is the likely distractor.
• A refinery processes crude oil into petrol, kerosene, diesel and so on.

Review the options:

• A. Alesa Eleme (Port Harcourt): The Port Harcourt Refinery at Alesa-Eleme, Rivers State, was commissioned in 1965. It was Nigeria's first refinery, with an initial capacity of about 35,000 barrels per day.
• B. Araromi: This is not a recognised refinery location. It is associated with oil exploration in Ondo State, and it was not the site of the first refinery.
• C. Kaduna: The Kaduna Refinery came in 1980, so it was later.
• D. Oloibiri: This is the site of the first oil discovery, not a refinery.
• E. Warri: The Warri Refinery was commissioned in 1978, so it was also later.

Order of refineries: Port Harcourt (Alesa Eleme, 1965) → Warri (1978) → Kaduna (1980) → the 2nd Port Harcourt refinery (1989)

Answer: The first refinery was established at Alesa Eleme.

Exam tip: Remember "Discovery ≠ Refinery." Oloibiri (1956) is the discovery, and Alesa Eleme (1965) is the first refinery. When you see "first oil," check whether the question means discovery, production, or refining.