A marketer of Petroleum Products, Mr.
Bello Mohammed, has urged the National Assembly to enact a law to make
oil pipeline vandalism an offence punishable by death.
Mohammed said this in a telephone
interview with our correspondent on Sunday. He was reacting to events
leading up to the latest pipeline explosion, which led to the death of
over 30 persons in Arepo, Ogun State.
He said the activities of vandals were
not only causing environmental pollution and sabotaging the economy,
but also claiming lives.
Mohammed said, “The National Assembly
should enact a law that would make pipeline vandalism a criminal offence
punishable by death just like armed robbery.
“Those engaged in it have taken their
criminality to an unacceptable level, they now carry arms with which
they kill Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation officials and security
agents. We have lost so many lives to pipeline explosions that we cannot
continue to let this happen.”
He said transporting oil products through pipelines remained the cheapest and safest means of conveying the products.
According to him, the deplorable state of roads has led to cases of oil tankers falling and spilling their contents.
Mohammed said efforts being made by the
Haruna Momoh-led Pipeline and Products Marketing Company to bring
various oil depots back on stream should be supported.
He also appealed to the National
Orientation Agency to sensitise members of the public to the dangers of
pipeline vandalism to save the environment and preserve the country’s
economy.
PUNCH
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