NOSDRA Confirms Three Sabotage Incidents

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on Wednesday said its investigations have shown a rising spate of oil spills caused by sabotage and theft.
NOSDRA, in a statement made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, indicated that three incidents investigated within the past few days were traced to sabotage.
According to the statement signed by Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NOSDRA, Mr Idris Musa,  oil firms were advised to tighten security around their assets to avert damage to the environment and loss of oil and gas revenue.
According to Musa, the ongoing gas leak from a gas line operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) that crosses Yenagoa communities was due to the activities of vandals.
“The agency received a report of a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) on 63 Nembe/Obama Pipeline at Sabatoru, Nembe L.G.A. Bayelsa State.
“The incident occurred proximal to an artisanal refining site whose operators are suspected to have vandalised the pipeline to steal crude oil.
“Similarly, there was another vandalised pipeline on the 20” Kolo Creek-Rumuekpe pipeline at Otuasega also in Bayelsa State.
“There was no oil spill in that instance.
“A gas pipeline was also vandalised on the 24” Ogboinbiri/OB-OB gas delivery line at Okaka behind Bayelsa Palm Estate in Yenagoa.
“This vandalism has a backlash on the main gas delivery pipeline fromthe OB-OB gas plant of the NAOC.
“We implore the oil companies operating in the area to place more surveillance on their assets to avoid wanton destruction of economic assets, as well as the environment,” Musa stated.
Meanwhile, residents of Azikoro and nearby settlements in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa have expressed concerns over poor air quality resulting from a gas leakage in the area.
The Tide source reports that a leakage at the “Ogboinbiri/OB-OB’’ gas pipeline is causing the pollution.
Residents say the emission of pungent gas from the leakage began on Monday and has gone on unabated.
Surveillance personnel of an oil company, Ike Napoleon, said workers heard a deafening sound at the facility while on duty on Monday morning.
“The gas leak is a thing of surprise because it is the first time such will occur. It was totally unexpected,’’ Napoleon said.
Paramount Ruler of Azikoro community Chief Clever Amadoko said the lives of the people were in danger following continued exposure to the toxic raw gas.
He called on the oil company to immediately mobilise to site to stop the “enormous’’ leakage.
“We don’t know what actually happened; whether it was caused by sabotage or not. But the oil company should come quickly and plug the leakage”.