The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation says it has recorded 1,447 incidences of pipeline vandalism resulting to the loss of millions of litres of products worth billions of naira in 2016 alone.
The NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, disclosed this when he paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, in Abuja on Thursday.
Baru added that in 2015, Nigeria lost 643 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit 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.
According to Baru, though security agencies were doing much to address the menace, the persistence of oil thieves and saboteurs was affecting even the 2016 budget implementation.
Baru, “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 in volume of 643 million litres valued at about N51.3 billion 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 NNPC 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 also 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.
NAN
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