Sylva, NNPC, CDS others declare “total war” against oil thieves, saboteurs
Oredola Adeola
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Army have declared total war against oil thieves and saboteurs in the Niger Delta region.
Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum, Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, NNPC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive , NUPRC, General Lucky Irabor and members of the Operation Delta Safe on Wednesday made this known while conducting an on-the-spot assessment of some pipelines negatively impacted by the activities vandals in Ibaa Community of Emeoha Local Government of Rivers State.
EnergyDay gathered that the team met in Port Harcourt on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Sylva said, “The single biggest problem of oil and gas industry is insecurity. This has come to the attention of every stakeholders in the industry including Mr. President. This is why we have gathered in Port Harcourt to ensure that this problem is handled once and for all.
“I agree that there are three major elements to addressing the crisis. The communities must be involved in securing the pipelines, because the criminals are not ghost, they are from the host communities.
“The security operatives as the law enforcement arm of the government must be fully involved and third element most importantly are the operating companies. We are here to finally resolve the problems.
“We are determined to put an end to this because we cannot afford to continue to watch the continuity of this vice in the oil and gas industry,
“I want to let everybody know that the criminals have their days numbered. We are here to ensure that the problem is finally resolved and to reclaim this industry for the country, because we have lost so much so much billion of Naira to the senseless activities of these criminals and it must stop,” the Minister declared.
GMD, NNPC on his part disclosed that the meeting in Port Harcourt was on the instruction of the President to contain the spate of pipeline vandalism and associated crude oil losses.
