The Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream, Hon. Muraina Ajibola, on Thursday declared that the ongoing fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism has escalated advising that Nigerians must stand up to fight the scourge because of its damaging effect on the nation’s economy.
Hon. Muraina who led members of the Committee on statutory oversight visit to the NNPC Towers, Abuja, informed that before now the leadership of the House of Representatives had set up a Committee to look into the issue of crude theft, stating that the Committee came up with far-reaching recommendations which the NNPC has expressed willingness to incorporate in the fight against crude theft.
“The report we are getting indicates that the GMD and his team have been doing everything possible to combat the situation and raise the revenue profile from oil and gas operations. As lawmakers we have been elected to make sure that solutions are proffered to the problems and not elected to create problems, so, ours is to give support and solutions to problems to ensure that all these oil theft is eradicated” the lawmaker stated.
The House Committee Chairman appealed to stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to desist from blame game and rally round the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in their bid to ensure stable oil and gas activities.
He said the House Committee is ready to partner with the NNPC to combat the menace and raise the nation’s revenue in oil and gas.
“We have listened to the NNPC, they have presented the facts to us in the most transparent manner, clearly stating their challenges especially on the issue of pipeline vandalism and crude theft, ’’ Hon. Muraina stated.
Honourable Muraina Ajibola lauded the NNPC Management for ensuring stability in petroleum products supply across country, encouraging the GMD to document how he and his team have been able to achieve the feat.
Welcoming members of the Committee to the NNPC Towers, Abuja, Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Engr. Andrew Yakubu thanked the lawmakers for embarking on the fact-finding mission.
Engr. Yakubu expressed the willingness of the Corporation to work with all stakeholders towards ensuring the smooth operations in the oil and gas industry.
Lamenting the negative impact of crude theft and pipeline vandalism in oil and gas activities, the NNPC GMD noted that the incident of illegal bunkering is common in onshore operations especially in the swamps and shallow waters of the Niger Delta.
“For instance we recorded over 170 vandalized points in the Escravos- Warri crude oil pipeline a distance of 60km,’’ Engr. Yakubu said.
He, however, stated that despite the challenges, NNPC remains resolute in the determination to ensure stable supply of petroleum products as well as crude oil and gas production.
