23rd March, 2022
The Federal Government has warned oil thieves and pipeline vandals in the country that their days are numbered as their activities would no longer be condoned.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva said this on Wednesday during an on-the-spot assessment of some pipelines negatively impacted by the unwholesome activities of the criminals in Ibaa Community of Emeoha Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Minister was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; GMD/CEO, NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari; Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe and members of Operation Delta Safe.
According to Sylva, the days of crude oil thieves, pipeline vandals and illegal bunkers were numbered.
He said the government would no longer condone any affront on the nation’s oil/gas installations.
In his words: “The single biggest problem in our industry today is the issue of insecurity, this has come to the attention of everyone, including Mr President.
“The president has directed myself and the CDS and the GMD of NNPC to ensure that the problem is handled once and for all.
“There are three elements to solving this problem-the community must be involved, these people who are engaged in these illegal activities are not ghosts, they are from the community, so the community has to be involved.
“You, as the security arm must be involved, because you are the security arm of the government and also as part of the government, must be involved.
“The third arm is the operating publics. I believe that finally, this problem will be resolved. We are determined to stop it. I want to let everybody know that these criminals have their days numbered. This country has lost so much from the activities of these criminals.”