THE tragic encounter and brutal killing of three workers of the Pipelines
and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) by pipeline vandals in Arepo, Ogun state,
is painful and should shock the consciousness of every Nigerian. The workers had gone to the location to repair
the ruptured portion of the pipeline which had apparently been ruptured by
unscrupulous elements to siphon oil. The incident has once again brought
to the fore the issue of security of lives and public property. Unsurprisingly, accusing fingers are being
pointed at the government’s negligence on the issue of security.
secure the entire length of pipelines in operation across the country,
especially considering the other pressing security issues. Records show
that within Nigeria alone, oil pipelines, gas pipelines, and other products
pipelines, that convey items such as gasoline, propane and ethylene covers
about 1,014 km, 902km, and 2310 km respectively.
These total about 4226km, besides the cross
border ones between Warri and Arzew covering over 4000km, and from Lagos to
Takoradi, 1033 km.
Due to their limited capability in harnessing
gas, vandals tend to attack oil pipelines instead. While the pipeline is
lengthy, it has now become important to vigorously tackle its security to
forestall the man-made leakages. Pipeline vandalism has tremendous cost
to the country.
First, it compromises the free flow of petroleum
products to intended destinations, which can easily dovetail into scarcity in
the country’s energy provision and system.
Secondly, its financial losses are huge. A
recent report from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) shows
that over N174 billion has been lost to this in the last ten years, due to
product losses and repairs of ruptured pipelines.
NNPC also recently stated that a total of 16,083
pipeline breaks were recorded within the past 10 years, out of which the
activities of vandals accounted for 15,685 translating to about 97.5 percent of
the total number of cases. Thirdly, there is the issue of the ecological
implications of ruptured pipelines on host communities. The consequential
spill can poison communities and destroy farmland and maritime life for years
to come.
Finally, it can lead to loss of lives like those
witnessed in Arepo community, or incinerate a whole community as they try to
scoop opportunistic oil. It is bad news whichever way it is viewed.
Then what do the authorities needs to do to improve the security of these
pipelines?
First, as recently done in the Niger Delta,
where government employed 12,000 youth to protect oil and gas pipeline
installations, the government should extend the approach to other areas in
Nigeria. The use of motion sensors and other electronic gadgets to
augment the armed security effort has now become imperative.
Secondly, security of pipelines should be
community-based. The Corporation has been trying to apply a policy of
moralsuasion, to encourage communities to report these criminal activities.
This has largely failed because the vandals are either armed, or has
successfully compromised community leaders, or lethargy on the part of the host
community.
It is implausible that nobody is aware of the
activities of these vandals in the affected community. The government needs to
put in place a whistle-blowing measures that gives incentives to any one whose
reports led to arrest of vandals, while also punishing any communities found
complicit in these nefarious activities.
Finally, the NNPC needs to carry out public
enlightenment campaigns about the possible risks and engage in social
responsibility initiatives, in the host communities. This will create a sense
of belonging, necessary to provide a reliable ring of protection around pipelines.
For the three workers carrying out their assignments before this tragedy at
Arepo, the government, NNPC and PPMC must show them due respect. They must
ensure that their lives were not lost in vain and implement the relevant
measures to prevent a re-occurrence of this tragedy.
