Business
NNPC Decries Pipelines Vandalism
The Nigerian National petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has decried the unending spate of pipeline- hacking and petroleum products theft in some parts of the country.
This is contained in a statement signed by the corporation’s Acting Group General Manager, Mr Fidel Pepple, and made available to newsmen in Lagos recently.
According to Pepple, pipeline vandals are currently posing a great danger to the efficient distribution and supply of petroleum products in some parts of the country.
He condenmed the recent pipeline break in the Ije-ododo community in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State .
“If left unchecked, the nefarious activities of pipeline vandals could cripple the smooth operation of the downstream sector of the industry,” Pepple said.
He said the corporation had been compelled to shut the line owing to Monday’s attack on the Ije-ododo point, shortly after extensive repair work on the ruptured Arepo point.
“We had over 774 break points since August 2012 from Atlas Cove to Ilorin depot. Between Atlas Cove and Mosimi depot, we recorded 181 break points, from Mosimi to Ibadan.
“We had 421 ruptured points from Mosimi to Ore, and we recorded 50 vandalised points. Also, between Ibadan and Ilorin, we had a tot of 122 break points,” the N acting Group General Mana said.
He said in spite 0 the challenge posed by the s t- down of the system 213 lin following the attack, the corporation remain optimistic however.
Pepple said this was because the NNPC would not want Nigerians to suffer undue hardship during the yuletide season .
“We have a fallback strategy, which we have already activated, to ensure an uninterrupted supply of products.
“Don’t forget that we had the worst time when the line was shut down completely in August after the Arepo incident.
“But we have restored the line and it started working and Nigerians felt the impact, only for the vandals to strike again.