NNPC, NUJ to Partner on Campaign against Crude Oil Theft, Pipeline Vandalism

The management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and
the national leadership of the National Union of Journalists, NUJ, have
pledged to partner and mount a sustained media campaign against the
persistent crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism menace in the country.
Addressing the leadership of the NUJ in his office at the NNPC Towers
Abuja, the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Engr. Andrew
Yakubu, deplored the frequent attacks on the Bonny to Trans Niger trunk
line, the Forcados, the Brass and Nembe crude trunk lines which ultimately
have reduced revenue accruals from the Oil and Gas sector to the economy.
“Crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism took a more
disturbing dimension from February to date when our entire major trunk
lines were attacked at one time or the other. The challenge is real and we
lose an equivalent of up to seven cargoes a month,” Engr. Yakubu revealed.
He declared that the menace is now a national embarrassment considering
its negative impact on the economy and urged all relevant stakeholders to
declare war against illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
Engr. Yakubu submitted that the scheduled turn-around maintenance and
rehabilitation of the refineries are on, disclosing that at the moment
Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, KRPC, is operating at sixty
(60%) percent capacity.
He noted that a new commercial model is being worked out by the
Corporation to increase the sale of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, to serve
as an alternative energy source to kerosene, stressing that at the moment
only NNPC provides dual purpose kerosene for the entire country.
The NNPC helmsman assured that as a socially responsible corporate
citizen, the Corporation will support the NUJ in the establishment of its
secretariat especially the Institute of Journalism which will promote
professionalism in the journalism profession.
In his earlier remarks, the NUJ President, Mohammed Garba, applauded the
NNPC GMD on his sterling leadership qualities that he has brought to bear
in the oil and gas sector and assured him of the readiness of the NUJ to
continue to support him to succeed in the onerous task.
The NUJ President was accompanied on the visit by other members of the
national executive of the union.