Business
Explosion: Stakeholders Urge Replacement Of Old Pipeline
As part of measures to avert further explosion of pipelines in the Niger Delta, stakeholders in the region have called for the replacement of all obsolete oil pipelines in the area.
Stakeholders expressed their views during a random interview conducted by The Tide on the growing spate of pipeline explosions resulting in wastage of lives.
Speaking during the interview, , President of a pro Niger Delta group, Niger Delta Coalition Against Violence (NDCAV), Comrade Lekia Christian, said pipeline explosions in the Niger Delta and most recently the tell tale experience at Komkom in Oyigbo Local Government Area Rivers state were linked to leakages from broken pipelines that spilled out petroleum products.
“Pipeline explosion has become a recurrent event in the Niger Delta and lives have always been wasted in these sordid experiences. It is the responsibility of the Federal Government through relevant institutions to find a lasting solution to this prevalent issue. Most of the pipelines in the Niger Delta are old and need replacement, something has to be done as a matter of urgency to avert further disasters.”, he said.
The NDCAV president also called for improved security and surveilance on the pipelines.
In his views, an environmental sociologist and lecturer in the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Steve Wodu, also blamed the sequence of misfortune of pipeline explosions in the Niger Delta on broken down facilities which he said, constitute serious risk to the lives of the people of the host communities.
“It’s unfortunate that most of the pipelines conveying crude oil in the Niger Delta are yet to be replaced despite the dilapidated status of the facilities. This is totally wrong and constitutes big risk to the lives of the people.
“The NNPC and PPMC should embark on an overhaul of all oil pipeline facilities in the Niger Delta to address the issues of pipeline explosions in the area. The negligence of relevant institutions in maintenance of pipelines is an issue of critical concern as it affects the lives of the people negatively. This is a disservice and another worst form of injustice to the people of the Niger Delta.
It would be recalled that the issue of pipeline explosions was also raised at the plenary of the Senate recently following a motion by Senator George Sekibo and three others, following the recent explosion that claimed lives and property at Oyigbo.
The Senate, in its ruling, urged the NNPC, PPMC and other relevant agencies in the oil and gas industry to find a lasting solution to the issue.
Taneh Beemene
Business
NAFDAC Decries Circulation Of Prohibited Food Items In markets …….Orders Vendors’ Immediate Cessation Of Dealings With Products
Importers, market traders, and supermarket operators have therefore, been directed to immediately cease all dealings in these items and to notify their supply chain partners to halt transactions involving prohibited products.
The agency emphasized that failure to comply will attract strict enforcement measures, including seizure and destruction of goods, suspension or revocation of operational licences, and prosecution under relevant laws.
The statement said “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm over the growing incidence of smuggling, sale, and distribution of regulated food products such as pasta, noodles, sugar, and tomato paste currently found in markets across the country.
“These products are expressly listed on the Federal Government’s Customs Prohibition List and are not permitted for importation”.
NAFDAC also called on other government bodies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS) Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Shippers Council, and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), to collaborate in enforcing the ban on these unsafe products.
