Date

3-10-2026

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy (PhD)

Chair

Eric Root

Keywords

Governance failures, refinery inefficiency, energy security, trade dependency, foreign policy, Nigeria, Dependency Theory

Disciplines

Political Science | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Abstract

This study investigates the paradox of Nigeria’s position as a major oil-producing nation that remains heavily dependent on imported refined petroleum. The central purpose of the research is to examine how governance failures, including policy misalignment, corruption, and regulatory inefficiencies, contribute to the persistent underperformance of Nigeria’s refineries, reinforcing trade dependencies and energy insecurity. Using a qualitative comparative case study approach, this research analyzes Nigeria alongside Brazil and Venezuela to explore how different governance frameworks shape refinery efficiency and international trade dynamics. The study is grounded in Dependency Theory and Energy Security Theory, illustrating how internal governance deficiencies perpetuate economic subordination and undermine national energy autonomy. Data will be collected from secondary sources, including official petroleum industry reports, governance indices, and trade balance data, and analyzed through thematic content analysis and comparative cross-case synthesis. Results from the comparative analysis are expected to show that Nigeria’s refining inefficiencies are more strongly correlated with governance and institutional failures than with technical limitations alone. The study contributes to academic discourse by extending Dependency Theory to internal governance dynamics in resource-rich countries and advancing Energy Security Theory by emphasizing internal, rather than external, threats to national energy stability. The findings carry implications for energy governance, public policy, and trade negotiations, and offer recommendations for future research to evaluate private sector engagement, regulatory reform, and the potential for energy diversification in addressing Nigeria’s refinery challenges.

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