NNPC records 1, 447 pipeline attacks in
2016
NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Dr
Maikanti Baru disclosed this when he paid a
courtesy call on the Chief of Defence Staff,
Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin in his office.
According to Baru, “In 2015, Nigeria lost 643
million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)
valued at N51.3 billion through pipeline
vandalism alone.
He said the volume of products lost through
vandalism of oil and gas infrastructure alone
underscored the need for stakeholders
especially security agencies to devise more
effective strategies to address the menace.
Acknowledging that security agencies were
doing much to address the menace, the
GMD said the persistence of oil thieves and
saboteurs was affecting even the 2016
budget implementation.
His words, “The supply and distribution of
Nigeria’s oil and gas resources remain
critical to the survival of our economy but it
is saddening to note that these critical
national assets have become targets of
vandalism and sabotage.
“The budget plan of the Federal Government
is grossly affected as a result of the
development because of the shortage
presently estimated at 700,000 barrels per
day.
“The gas to power projections of
government is also being hampered due to
the activities of the vandals.
“In 2015 alone, pipeline losses of Premium
Motor Spirit (PMS) in volume of 643 million
litres valued at about N51.3 bn was
recorded, while 1,447 incidences of
vandalism was reported so far in 2016’’.
Baru said the impact of the development on
the economy could be seen in the areas of
degradation, unnecessary loss of lives, and
high cost of production among others.
He said a review of the security architecture
of the protection of critical infrastructure in
the Niger delta was required to prevent the
economy from further hemorrhage.
The GMD sought improved collaboration
with security agencies and the military in
particular to prevent further damage to oil
and gas facilities in the Niger Delta region.
He also solicited the support of the military
for NNPC to resume exploration activities in
the Benue trough and the Chad Basin.
Baru further sought better security
arrangement for NNPC’s strategic business
partners in the Niger Delta and other parts
of the country.
He pledged NNPC’s support and cooperation
for security agencies working to curb
activities of vandals and saboteurs in the oil
and gas industry.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel
Olonisakin in his remarks, pledged to work
closely with NNPC and its partners to better
protect oil and gas infrastructure in the
Niger Delta.
He said the reinvigorated military operation
in the Niger Delta was tailored towards
better performance and efficiency on the
part of the military.
Olonisakin assured his guest that the
business environment in the Niger Delta
would soon be made conducive for
operators in the oil and gas sector.
He added that exploration activities in the
northern part of the country would resume
as soon as the region was completely rid of
terrorists and their cohorts.
“In the Operation Delta Safe, we try to limit
it to some areas so that their efforts can be
able to address the challenge with our oil
infrastructure.
“We need to fine tune the plan for the
private security arrangement for the
protection of oil and gas pipelines, we are
not averse to the plan but we need it to be
fine-tuned.
He pointed out that in the Lake Chad basin,
the military is carrying out an operation in
that area, to conclude the operation before
‘we can allow anybody to go in there and
carry out exploration activities.
“The operation is scheduled for about 60
days so at the end of the operation we will
inform you so that your people can move in
and start exploration,’’ he said.
The CDS said the Armed Forces remained
committed in supporting government
actualize its agenda for the economy and
the security of lives and property.
Source: Vanguard ngr
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