8th November, 2010
Residents of Arepo, a fast growing community along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have called on the Federal Government to put a stop to the stealing of petroleum products from oil pipelines that pass through the community.
Arepo village, which houses many estates, including the popular Journalists Estate  has become an abode for oil thieves who regularly damage the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation pipeline to steal fuel.
This illegal activity has reached such an alarming scale that it has become a looming catastrophe and health hazard to residents, with the smell of fuel in the air almost permanently.
The fear of a fire outbreak is real, as it had once happened in the past during which people were burnt to death. Residents say they fear for their lives and their properties are now endangered.
They called on the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police, to put a stop to this illegal act, while the NNPC should be up to its responsibility and repair the damaged pipes and possibly post permanent guards to the area. The residents added that NNPC’s inability to secure its oil pipes gives the impression that the corporation’s officials might be colluding with the bunkers to siphon fuel illegally from the pipelines.
— Kazeem Ugbodaga
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2010 P.M.News