
The Group managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikantu Baru has lamented the increasing incidences of pipeline vandalism in the country, saying that Nigeria lost N51.28 billion to this crime in 2015 alone.
Baru made the shocking revelation when he visited the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana, in Abuja on Wednesday, also revealed that 18,000 incidence of pipeline vandalism was recorded in the last five years between 2010 and 2015.
The GMD added that there were 3000 acts of pipeline vandalism in 2015 alone, which translates to over 643 million litres or petroleum products valued at N51.28 billion.
He also revealed that between January and May 2016, Nigeria has lost 109 million litres of petroleum products as well as 560,000 barrels of crude oil to refineries, in at least 1,447 attacks on the nation’s pipelines.
The power sector has not fared any better as according to Baru, the supply of gas for power generation dropped by an estimated 50 percent.
He however pointed out that the NSCDC, “being a grassroots paramilitary agency is much closer to our facilities than any of the security agencies”, adding that the NNPC, under his leadership, would give the corps the necessary support to effectively safeguard the Nation’s critical oil infrastructure.
The NSCDC Commandant-General, in his reply, said that his agency will continue to discharge its mandate in protecting Nigeria’s assets.
He reiterated that the nation cannot afford to continue losing huge revenue to criminals and vandals.
Gana, noted that the NSCDC has lost many of its personnel on the line of duty in the creeks, but that would not deter them in carrying out their task.