NUPENG Tasks FG On Demolition Of Illegal Structures

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has urged the Federal Government to demolish structures built on NNPC’s right-of-way nationwide to stop theft of petroleum products.
The South-West Chairman of the union, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, made the plea in an interview with newsmen in Lagos yesterday.
Korodo alleged that some landlords built their houses on the pipeline in order to illegally siphon petroleum products from it.
According to the Chairman, such act not only endangers the lives of the residents in the area, but is also economic sabotage.
“ People should not be allowed to build structures on NNPC pipelines’ right-of-way.
“Apart from vandalism of pipelines and scooping of petrol or diesel belonging to NNPC, it is also dangerous for the people living in the area.
“Government should as a matter of urgency clear all illegal structures built under this right-of-way to avert disaster,’’ he said.
Korodo commended security agencies for the discovery of 12 houses in Abeokuta and Ibadan Streets in Ilasamaja area of Lagos where shallow oil wells were discovered.
He said that clearing of structures on the pipeline would reduce such incident.
The Lagos State Government on Aug.12 shut 12 houses in Ilasamaja area of the state over discovery of shallow oil wells built by landlords to steal diesel from NNPC pipeline.
Addressing newsmen at Ikeja, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said the oil wells were built for the purpose of illegally scooping diesel and selling to the public.