The management of Port Harcourt Refining Company said yesterday that
it had uncovered a major sabotaged pipeline at Okariama in Okrika Local
Government Area of Rivers State. Acting Managing Director, Mr Vitalis
Ugochukwu, told newsmen in Okrika that the company also uncovered
another 700 metres pipe illegally used by vandals to siphon products
from the sabotaged pipelines even as another fire occurred at Arepo
pipeline in Ogun State yesterday.
Ugochukwu decried the high rate of pipeline vandalism, especially
between the refinery and the jetty, where it evacuated products through
ship-loading, noting that the crime had increased in 2013. According to
him, it is almost a daily occurrence, in terms of what is lost, it is
not something I can give you immediately, but it is in the neighbourhood
of 200- 500 cubic metres of product. “In the recent times, we are
hearing of connections of lines to the main lines; we are talking about
two to three inches lines underneath our own pipelines and then extended
to illegal jetties,“
Ugochukwu said. He said that the negative effect of the pipeline
vandalism in the effectiveness of the company could not be
over-emphasised. Ugochukwu said that vandalism delayed loading getting
to the jetty for ship-loading and if the ship was delayed for 24 hours,
demurrage would be paid by the company. He said the cost of repairs on
the pipelines was high while the repair job was very risky to the
company since most times, vandalism happened in the creeks. Ugochukwu
said the major concern of the company was the encroachment on the
pipeline right of way as any fire on any of the pipeline would burn the
whole community.
On his part, Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Ralph Ugwu, appealed to the
government to assist in clearing the pipeline right of way to avoid
fire. Ugwu also said that the encroachment on the right of way made
surveillance of the pipelines very difficult. Conducting reporters round
the vandalised pipelines, the Deputy Manager, Security Services, Mr
Jimmy Udofia, said that the vandals skilfully dug holes on the kerosene
(AGO) and petrol (premium motor spirit, PMS) pipes. Udofia said they
fixed a valve on each of pipelines using a rubber pipe to connect the
line to another pipe they laid underneath. He said the rubber pipe was
used to siphon any of the products from the pipelines to about 700
metres into a river where they loaded their boats with the product.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
pipeline in Arepo, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State,
was yesterday set ablaze again by suspected vandals. The inferno
occurred barely 12 days after a similar incident in the area, which
killed scores of people including vandals. The fire was allegedly caused
by some suspected vandals who invaded the area in the early hours of
yesterday, perforating the pipelines which led to an outbreak of fire.
The situation was also compounded by another inferno, which occurred
during an exchange of gunfire between men of the Nigerian Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and vandals around Magboro. Spokesman of the
state command of the NSCDC, Mr. Kareem Olanrewaju, confirmed the fire
at Arepo.
“The NNPC pipeline at Arepo has again been vandalised by vandals in
the early hours of today. “The fire occurred shortly after an exchange
of gunshots between them (vandals) and our men at Magboro area, near
Arepo village. “For now, we cannot ascertain whether it is the same team
of vandals that we encountered ealier that went to burst the pipeline
at Arepo in retaliation.
“We have carried out series of operations there (Arepo) successfully
with the arrest of some suspected vandals and seizure of some exhibits.”
According to him, the state Commandant, Aboluwoye Akinwande, had
already visited the scene noting that the incessant attacks on the NSCDC
men by vandals had necessitated the deployment of more armed personnel
to the troubled area.
SUN
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