Stakeholders in the oil and
gas sector have  urged the Federal Government to introduce community policing of petroleum pipelines to check incessant vandalism of the pipelines.
The stakeholders, in separate interviews with newsmen  in Lagos, said that government had not solicited the support of host communities in the surveillance of oil pipelines.
Chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Lagos Chapter,  Mr Folorunsho Oginni, said that involvement of communities in the surveillance of pipelines would check vandalism.
Oginni urged the FG to involve community leaders and local vigilance groups in policing the lines to reduce frequent vandalism.
“There is need for government to inaugurate community policing on pipeline surveillance to curb incessant vandalism.
“Host community leaders, local vigilance groups should also be involved to effectively monitor the pipelines to reduce frequent vandalism,’’ Oginni advised.
An Energy Consultant in Primtex Energy Solution, Mr Clement Charles, said that there was the need for government to ensure that vandals of pipelines were brought to book.
According to him, Nigeria can no longer fold its hands and watch a few individuals destroy the natural resource because they want to enrich themselves.
“Government has told us severally that over N200 billion had been lost to pipeline vandalism in the last 10 years, which has gross effect on our economy,’’ he said.
The energy consultant said that the level of pipeline vandalism and theft of oil products was impacting negatively on the socio-economic growth of the country.
“Frequent pipeline vandalism has affected the free flow of petroleum products across the country,’’ he said.
Charles said that the security challenges in the Niger Delta region had also contributed significantly to the instability in the petroleum sector.
A security expert, Mr Henry Peters, suggested the installation of “electric citadel fence” along the pipelines.
Peters, the Chairman, Glumbond International Ltd, said that it would be impossible for oil vandals to gain access to pipeline sites with the electrical fence in place.
According to him, the device easily analyses threats because “it is a see-through machine with an aperture that can deflect bullets fired into it|”.
He also advised government to stop neglecting host oil communities in the efforts to stop oil theft menace.
Chairman of South-West Chapter of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr Olumide Ogunmade, urged government to introduce stiffer penalties for pipeline vandalism.
Ogunmade advised government to put in place measures that would address issues of pipeline vandalism holistically
He appealed to host communities to ensure that pipelines were adequately protected from vandals.
“Host communities should be more security-conscious to drive the local economy, he said, adding that the security threat in the country had become worrisome.
The Tide reports that the Federal Government, on September 18, approved about N15 billion for measures to curb oil theft and pipeline vandalism.