By Francis Sadhere
As part of efforts to check the indiscriminate bombing of oil installations and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta region, thereby reducing the power grid in the country, the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has reiterated the preparedness of the Federal Government in treating pipeline vandals as Boko Haram insurgent.
He made the disclosure in Warri after visiting the site of the bombed Forcados export oil and gas pipeline in Burutu local government, which was bombed in January 14th this year and has led to the reduction in the national grid.
The Nigerian Air-force Jet which brought the vice president and his entourage touched down at the Osubi Airstrip in Warri at exactly 12.30PM, while the Delta state governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the speaker of the state house of assembly and traditional rulers were on hand to receive the number two citizen amid tight security.
Fielding questions from journalists, professor Osinbajo reiterated the president comment in China as treating pipeline vandals as Boko Haram terrorists.
Speaking further, he spoke on the efforts of the federal government in protecting oil installations, and promised the readiness of the federal government in addressing the situation.
“The damage done has led to low supply of gas and mist of the power plants are to of functioning to maximum capacity.
“We went to Forcados to see for ourselves the sabotage done to our pipelines. We have seen the alternative steps that the nnpc is taking in order to ameloriate the damage that has been done and the problem associated with getting gas from that terminal to all of our plants. Aside from the gas problem, there is also the problem of losing thousands of barrels of production. We are not able to produce as much as we ought to. About 250,000 barrels per We are losing large sums of money daily. We look for alternative while we look to repair the pipelines.
“There is a lot of efforts being made by the FG and state government as well as a communal help. We must meet current vandalism challenges but also look into what we can do in the future. We would have t delay even sophisticated weapons to ensure we contain the vandalism, overhauls security a permanent pipeline security force might also be an option to look at.
“As you know, pipelines vandals are probably as bad as any type of terrorists or saboteurs and the danger posed to lives caused by pipelines vandals. All of us must agree with the president that the vandals must be treated with the most sever manner and should not be tolerated at all. So, I agree entirely that pipelines vandals should not be tolerated under no circumstances.
“The Forcados terminal is important to delta state and the nation. That is where SPDC evacuates its products, and other land operations including seplat, evacuating products from there for sale. All the production on land by SPDC is shortened .
“We are losing about 300, 000 barrels per day. That’s quite a lot. To delta state its a lot. To Nigeria it’s also a lot, because we have an average production of 2.2 million barrels with 300,000 barrels out that lads to 1.9million barrels. And the oil prices are really very low at the moment.
“Beyond that, the gas component of it is also a hug problem. There is a lot of shorten of gas and the power situation in the country is already getting g very bad. It’s dropped down remarkably to 3,000 megawat which is not just enough at the moment.
“They just briefed us today about the plans for the repairs of the pipelines from the programme of events, they may likely finish by the end of May. It’s a probability. We are looking forward to having it finished by end of May,” VP Osinbajo said.
