The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has appealed to pipeline vandals to desist from destroying pipelines in the country. NNPC says it has marked its pipelines to avert vandalism and fire outbreaks to sustain the current steady supply of petroleum products nationwide.
Maikanti Baru, the group managing director, NNPC, said this in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said in a statement by Ndu Ughamadu, NNPC group general manager, group public affairs division, that the corporation would continue to monitor its pipelines and collaborate with the law enforcement agencies to safeguard such critical national asset.
”In our various pipelines running across several kilometers and locations, right-of-way is indicated to show that people should not tamper with the facility because of the danger that is involved.
”This is done to ensure that when there is safety breach, we have access to the affected spot and intervene accordingly.
”We will use this opportunity to call on pipeline vandals to please keep away from our pipeline because they are not carrying liquid that can easily be handled like water.
”We are calling on the general public that when they see the sign on the pipeline, they should not tamper with it in their own interest and that of the nation,” Baru said.
He said any vandal would be handed over to law enforcement agents to face appropriate sanctions.
Baru urged members of the public to support NNPC by reporting any suspicious activity around pipelines and other oil and gas facilities.
(NAN)
