Nigeria to safeguard Oil, Gas Infrastructure

The Nigerian government says as it strives to bridge the nation’s infrastructural deficit, every strategy must also be put in place to safeguard and stop the destruction of oil, gas infrastructure.

This was disclosed in Abuja by the country’s Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed at the 20th edition of the Town Hall meeting on the protection of oil and gas infrastructure.

The Minister said to have such laudable efforts of the government thwarted by some unpatriotic citizens through the wanton destruction of critical infrastructure was totally unacceptable.

 “To have railway tracks subjected to wanton destruction, bridge railings removed, manhole covers pilfered, street lights and other power infrastructure, oil pipelines, telecoms facilities and critical aviation infrastructure damaged or stolen do not augur well for our growth and development.

“Apart from endangering the lives of fellow innocent citizens, such unpatriotic acts take a toll on the government’s limited revenue, as it seeks to replace, rehabilitate or totally reconstruct such destroyed infrastructure,” he said.

Mohammed further narrated that Nigeria has long suffered a massive infrastructure deficit due to decades of neglect, population explosion and the absence of maintenance culture.

He, however, said that since coming into office in 2015, the Muhammadu Buhari Administration has embarked on rapid economic growth with equity, that is people-centred economic management as well as prioritizing human capital development through enhanced social services and infrastructure development.

 “Despite a drastic drop in revenues and competing priorities, especially that of tackling insecurity, the Administration has invested heavily in providing new infrastructure, in addition to reconstructing and rehabilitating existing ones,” he revealed.

The Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Melle Kyari, who represented the Minister of state for petroleum resources Timipriye Sylva also said during the town hall meeting that pipeline vandalism has caused the nation a lot in terms of economic losses adding the rural communities in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria are having environmental problems due to the operations of pipeline vandals and the activities of the  NNPC.

“When you go round the Niger delta states, and when you look at the conditions of the people in the Niger Delta especially in the rural communities, in many areas where we conduct direct operations, you will know for sure that some communities are in the perpetual day time because the flare sites some kilometres away from these communities have fire burning all through the day all through the year. You cannot distinguish between daytime and night,” the Group Managing Director explained.

Mele Kyari said a special fund was created for the host communities to cushion the effect of oil pollution and degradation on the environment.

He raised concerns about the oil derivation formula as proposed in the Petroleum Industry Bill recently passed by the national assembly for the host communities adding that stakeholders should be cautious on the figure in order not to drive the international oil companies away from Nigeria.

“Oil companies are leaving our country, and why are they leaving our country, it’s not just about security, it’s about the physical environment for the businesses we are operating in this country. Every cost is an additional load on the business and it will affect the margin of the company that’s why they are likely leaving apart from the environment we talked about,” he said.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio said that youths of host communities should be gainfully engaged to reduce the issue of pipeline vandalism adding that the amnesty program by the federal government has worked to ensure relative peace in the oil-producing areas of the Niger delta. He however appealed to the international Oil Companies to remit the agreed percentage so that the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC will function optimally.

“The International Oil Companies IOCs are collectively owing the NDDC 4.2billion Dollars. That’s what they do and it’s not only the IOCs alone but other joint venture companies,” he revealed.

According to Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Dr Muhammed Mahmood, Nigeria losses four-point seven-five trillion naira to oil theft in four years between 2015 and 2018 which results in oil spillage in the Niger Delta region.

The Minister said the impact of pipeline vandalism on Oil facilities has not only caused the country to lose revenue but monies that could have been used to develop other sectors, like education, health, road and among others.

“There should be increase community development sustainable project for all host communities, skill acquisition provision of infrastructure and basic amenities by oil companies and relevant tiers of government.

“Creating ownership status to host communities and increasing their involvement in monitoring and surveillance of oil facilities,” the Minister added.

It would be recalled that the Ministry of Information and Culture kick-started the town hall meeting series in Lagos on April 25th 2016 to provide a platform for the Federal Government to regularly give an account of its stewardship to the people and get their feedback, with a view to enhancing citizens’ participation in governance.

PIAK