ENDING PIPELINE VANDALISM

Incessant oil pipeline vandalism is daily taking a frightening proportion, as vandals are becoming more daring in their criminal activities whilst meting untold hardship on the nation’s economy. For instance, the country is losing about 150,000barrels of crude oil to this criminal elements every day, meaning about $6.5million is lost to vandalism daily. Also, most oil companies are being forced to shutdown operations as a result of incessant vandalisation of the pipelines.
Not too long ago, an explosion occurred after some oil vandals severed a petroleum pipeline and went on to scoop fuel into jerry cans at the Ije Ododo, though the NNPC had shut flow to the pipeline and locked supply valves. Days after, the fire is still burning with thick smoke billowing from the area and rescuers are yet to get to the scene of the incident due to the swampy nature of the terrain. Worthy of note is the fact that Ije Ododo that is being vandalised is direct from the Atlas Cove which supplies products to Mosimi, a critical supply facility which supports strategic supply chain that distributes products to other parts of the South-West zone.
No doubt, incessant vandalism remains a threat to the country’s socio-economic development. Aside the usual deaths recorded, fatal injuries to the perpetrators and the environmental effects, it also has the potentials of wiping out a whole community were such vandalisation occurs. More so, it undermined the ability to pump products from the various depots, which often results to scarcity of petroleum products across the country. However, in spite of the inherent dangers associated with this criminal act, vandals are not discouraged nor are they willing to give up their nefarious operation because of the quick money they often make doing this shady business.
More worrisome is that the these vandals have moved from just pipeline vandalisation and oil theft to that of killing and even kidnapping those saddled with the task of protecting and monitoring the pipelines across the country. On several occasions the vandals clash with security personnel, police and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC. At other times, the plans outlined towards checking the activities of these criminals are often frustrated by unnecessary inter- agency wrangling. It is against this backdrop that we urge the government to as a matter of urgency strengthen its security apparatus to checkmate the growing rate of oil pipeline theft and vandalism.

 

 

Check the Nigerian Pilot newspaper for the full story.