The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mele Kyari says the activities of vandals has continued unabated due to the conspiracy of silence from those who have the responsibility to protect the pipelines and those who watch this happen.

According to Kyari who was a guest on NTA’s Good Morning Nigeria, “These insertions into the pipelines can never be done in isolation. There’s a huge conspiracy of silence around this tragic situation. I mean conspiracy of silence from those who have the responsibility to protect the pipeline and those who watch this happen”.

“I was shocked that very close to the site of the unfortunate pipeline explosion in Abule Egba area, there’s a big church and a big mosque there. It means that worshippers in those 2 holy places are well aware of what is happening. This is most tragic.”

The GMD added that activities of pipeline vandals which began as acts of sabotage has now become a full-blown business. “This is most unfortunate,” he said.

He decried the fact that acts of vandalism happen to products pipelines across the country, which is why many of the pipelines are shut down today.

“We are collaborating with security agencies to curtail the situation. Of recent, the vandals have become so sophisticated as they fight back, until the recent intervention from the Chief of Defence Staff and his team we are very grateful to him for that.”

“What we saw in Lagos a few days ago on our System 2B (Atlas Cove all the way to Mosimi) Pipeline was an indication that these unpatriotic acts happen in the midst of communities. Almost everybody around that community is aware of what is happening!”

He commended “Operation Awatse” for their efforts so far which has degraded the acts of vandals. “We believe that with collaborations such as this, these pipelines will ultimately be safe.”

Kyari however noted that the NNPC is taking some measures by deploying technology to the maximum possibility. “We’re working on getting the pipelines deeper and much safer and most importantly, we are keen on sustaining our collaboration with the security agencies, he said.”

“Without the market the business of crude oil/ product theft cannot thrive. The extent of crude oil/product theft is very enormous”.

“To completely eliminate the acts of cross border smuggling, we have to look at the dynamics of having a relationship with our neighbouring countries we have to make sure that we supply petroleum products to them on market bases, otherwise we can only minimise it”.

Report by Theresa Igata