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Militants’ Attack: MOSOP Dismisses NNPC’s Claim On TNP
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has dismissed reports that the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) that transports some 150,000 barrels of crude oil through Ogoniland to Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State, was at any time attacked by suspected militants.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had earlier in the week claimed that the TNP had been vandalised by militants in the area.
The President of MOSOP, Legborsi Pyagbara, in a swift reaction to the NNPC’s claim, which was published in some national dailies, dismissed the claim as a figment of the imagination of the corporation, saying that there has not been any militants’ attack on the TNP for some time now.
In the statement signed by the Media/Public Affairs Advisor, Bari-ara Kpalap, MOSOP described the NNPC’s allegation as an attempt to blackmail Ogonis and back its ploy to resume oil production in Ogoniland.
“What we believe is that the whole claim or allegation is a complete attempt to blackmail Ogoni people. If not, NNPC wouldn’t have taken that line because if you look at what has happened, NNPC has not said that this is where the vandalisation of the TNP took place in Ogoni.
“They did not say it happened in Khana, or Eleme or Tai or Gokana. So, which part of Ogoni did the vandalisation take place? This is why we say it is a mere blackmail and an attempt to justify their secret entry into Ogoni to commence oil production and its related activities,” Kpalap added.
The Tide investigation revealed that MOSOP’s reaction is sequel to NNPC report that Nigeria’s crude oil output dropped by 150,000 barrel per day following alleged attack on the Trans Niger Pipeline by suspected militants.
In the report, the corporation had said that suspected militants, had last Monday, vandalised the Trans-Niger Pipeline in Ogoniland in the Niger Delta region, thereby reducing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s crude oil production by 150,000 barrels per day.
According to the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, the country has not been able to sustain the recent gains recorded in crude oil production as a result of the rupturing of pipelines in the region.
When asked if the corporation had been able to sustain the 2.2 million bpd crude production that it announced last week, Baru told journalists in Abuja, “unfortunately, we have not been able to sustain it because we have challenges.
“As I am talking to you, this morning (Monday), the Trans-Niger Pipeline has been breached in Ogoniland, and that is 150,000 barrels of oil that have been knocked off. That has been fairly an issue with that area. We hope we can continue our dialogue and this will return to what it should be.”
The NNPC boss had told stakeholders in Abuja, last week, that the country’s crude production was 2.2 million barrels per day.
Baru, who spoke through the corporation’s Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, Saidu Mohammed, had announced that the country’s crude production was building up.
“We are doing about 2.2 million bpd today, but of course, the intention is to build on that, sustain production and grow it up to three million barrels per day in the next few years,” the GMD had said.
Commenting on the ongoing African Petroleum Producers Organisation extraordinary session in Abuja, Baru stated that Nigeria gave birth to the body.
He said, “In the first instance, Nigeria is the one that gave birth to the African Petroleum Producers Association, which as part of reorganisation, is changing its name to African Petroleum Producers Organisation, and that is giving some form of permanency in the organisation.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.