The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged the Federal Government to administer effective pipelines surveillance equipment to tackle incessant vandalism of the facility across the country.
Chairman, IPMAN, South-West, Alhaji Ahmed Debo, said that provision of sophisticated equipment along pipelines network would improve effective distribution of petroleum products to depots across the country.
According to him, if the oil companies, government and the international donors can provide surveillance equipment, it would go a long way in tackling pipeline vandalism and oil theft. He also advocated sustained enlightenment programmes to make the populace accustomed with the dangers of oil theft and illegal bunkering.
“By educating the host communities, they will be aware of the devastating effects of illegal oil bunkering on the economy and development of our nation”, he said.
Adding that, “the sensitisation programmes will make the public to realise that they have a major role to play in reducing the scourge on the society”.
IPMAN chairman further said, “the extensive enlightenment programme in communities where these pipelines pass through will make them know the dangers and encourage them to report cases of pipeline vandalism to security agents.”
“In any region where crude oil theft is prevalent, it reduces the healthy growth of such forest to mere grasses, while fish and other aquatic animals are on the verge of extinction,’’ Debo said.
He lamented that pipeline vandalism had brought high cost of operation, loss of revenue to the nation, and disruption of product distribution, causing fuel scarcity.
Debo noted that illegal oil bunkering was causing the nation a heavy sum of money to repair vandalised equipment.
