Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji has promised to sponsor a bill to the state Assembly to tackle the menace of illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation in the state.
The governor made the disclosure yesterday during the recommissioning of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Depot at Osisoma, Aba.
Gov. Orji lamented the activities of criminals who break pipelines and steal petroleum products and called on the people of the areas where around the pipelines to report vandals to the security agencies.
The Depot was shut because of the activities of vandals. You have to report these vandals to the security agencies. You cannot say you don’t know them. We will sponsor a bill to the state House of Assembly to make breaking of pipelines a capital offence punishable by death, he said.
Gov. Orji lauded the efforts of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, Managing Director of the Products and Pipeline Marketing Company, Mr. Haruna Momoh, National Assembly members from the state, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), the Nigerian Army and other stakeholders in reopening the Depot.
Speaking at the occasion, Momoh disclosed that products worth N7.6 billion have been lost to pipeline vandalism in the Aba-Port- Harcourt axis from 2007 to date.
According to him, over 30 million litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) have been pumped to Aba depot. He assured that the trend would be maintained as long as the pipelines are intact.
He noted that the only major hindrance to the availability of products to Aba Depot is vandalism, added that a functional fire truck and a 500kva generating set have been installed in the Depot.
He said that out of 21 depots in the country, only four depots were functional when he assumed office. He explained that pipelines to Gusua, Jos and other areas have been restored since he assumed office, and that they next targe pipelines in Warri, Benin, Makurdi,
Aba- Enugu, Jos, amongst others.
Others who spoke including the Senate Committee Chairman on Gas, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu advised the residents of the area and other stakeholders to ensure that the Depot will not suffer another closure due to the activities of vandals, adding that with the development, the economy of the state is bound to improve.
Some of the residents who spoke to our correspondent expressed gratitude to the governor and other stakeholders for their efforts. Many of them said they have adversely affected since the Depot was closed down, but thanked God that it has been reopened, promising to work with the security agencies to tackle the activities of vandals.
Recall that the NNPC Depot at Osisioma, Aba, was shut down in 2007 due to the incidence of breaking of pipelines.