The NNPC has faulted allegations of negligence, by Governor Amosun as regards the fire incident at Arepo, Ogun State at the weekend. In a statement by the Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs of
NNPC, Ms Tumini Green, made available to newsmen on Monday, the corporation expressed shock at a statement credited to Amosun.
“It is sad that the governor of Ogun State who should know the importance of national assets like pipelines and do everything in his power to protect them is engaging in a blame game when every responsible Nigerian citizen is wondering why Arepo, which is in his domain has become such an attractive spot for oil thieves and pipeline vandals,” she stated.
She urged Governor Amosun to emulate his Abia State counterpart who has mobilised security to protect the pipelines in his domain to sustain product supply to the state, rather than engage in unnecessary rhetorics.
Green further stated that few months ago, “the NNPC/PPMC approached the Ogun State government seeking for synergy on the fight against pipeline vandalism but to our surprise the Ogun Stste government is yet to give a positive response.”
She called on all Nigerians to be vigilant and report all suspicious movements around pipelines to the security agencies, adding that the protection of pipelines should be the responsibility of every citizen, especially as they are usually at the receiving end of the hardship caused by the activities of vandals.
Meanwhile, The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Mr Andrew Yakubu, assured today the vandalised pipeline would be ready to distribute Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) (petrol) from today to avert scarcity of the product. He stated this during an inspection of the site on Monday.
According to him, “we have drawn new strategy to put a final stop to these activities. We have repaired the punctured spots on the pipeline to avert scarcity of petrol and dissuade panic buying. Although, these are stop-gap solutions, but plans are on the way to provide permanent solution to the crisis.
“We are collaborating with the security agencies and the Inspector General of Police (Mohammed Abubakar) has assigned special squad to provide security for the pipelines.”
On averting scarcity of petrol, he said there are enough stocks at Mosinmi depot. “We have enough stock at Mosinmi depot to manage the situation. We have repaired this, but to make additional measures. This is time for action because the governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, has opened up to cooperate with us.
He was here to feel the situation and this challenge called for cooperation.
“Permanent solution required some designs and it would come soon. This becomes important because if you disrupt major channels like this (pipelines), we would resort to trucking to move petroleum products across the country which are not the best means of transportation,” he concluded.
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