‘Militants’ Bombing Of Oil Pipelines May Worsen Economy’

As bombing by militant
groups enter the fourth day, stakeholders have expressed fear that the negative impant of the hostility will do serious damage to the already weak oil sector and the nation’s economy.
A business consoultant, Chisom Zubi told The Tide yesterday in Port Harcourt that, “ if not checked immediately, the oil sector which is already postrate will be too bad for our economy which depends largely on oil.
According to Zubi, “ just less than one year the oil price come heavily down, states can’t pay salaries and most companies are shedding their staff, if the bombing continues like this, Nigeria may need more than the trillions of Naira to finance the deficit.
Expressing similar fear, a staff of one of the multinational oil companies said, any other attempt on oil, means more sack for those of us remaining.
The oil company worker who pleaded anonymity said for over one year, his company has sacked thousands of workers because of the fall in oil price.
He pleaded with the government to do everything possible to avert further bombing by the militant youths for the interest of Nigerians.
The Tide learnt that the militant youths have blown up major crude oil and gas pipelines to the Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, Jank Farm in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
They bombed the Escravos-Warri-Abuja, Lagos pipeline at about 10:00pm Thursday, and also attacked the CNL’s Utanana-Makarab crude oil line by 10:30 pm Friday, and Olero gas line at the early hours of Sturdy.
The bombings are coming at a time one of the Ex-militant leaders, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a deal involving billions of Naira.
However Tompolo has distanced himself from the bombings, saying he has no idea or link to the attacks.
The chairman, Itsekiri Regional Developmnet Council (IRDC), Chief Ayiri Emami, has expressed fear that the attacks which are targeted at oil facilities in Itsekiri towns and villages night metamorphose into another Ijaw /Itsekiri War.
He believes that those carrying out the attacks were Ijaw militants known to the security agencies, state and federal government.
“We are concerned because they have left their areas to bomb oil facilities in Itsekiri areas of Dibi, Abiteye and Kpokpo and the next thing now; they want to bomb Itsekiri villages.”

Chris Oluoh