31 December 2012, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, says it has restored its pipeline at Ije-Ododo, Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos, which vandalised recently, resulting in fire outbreak.
The NNPC said it carried out comprehensive restoration of the pipeline to normalcy.
In a statement, Sunday, in Abuja, signed by its acting Group General Manager Public Affairs, Mr. Fidel Pepple, the corporation stated that with the development, pumping of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, or petrol, affected by the damage, has resumed to depots and tank farms in it’s System 2B, covering the Atlas-Cove depot in Lagos to Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Alleying fears of scarcity, the statement said normalcy had been restored in the supply and distribution of petroleum products following the development.
“I can affirm to you that our engineers from the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Limited (PPMC) have finally fixed the Ije-Ododo pipeline that was ruptured last Monday by activities of pipeline vandals.
“Going forward, the good news for Nigerians is that we have resumed pumping of petroleum products through the pipeline and System 2B is equally working after the restoration of the pipeline,” the statement said.
Pepple also disclosed that the recent fuel queues experienced around the country were due to the activities of pipeline vandals and closure of a number of filling stations due to the Christmas holidays and not shortage of petroleum products.
The NNPC, he said, has products that could sustain the nation for over a month and is making concerted effort to sustain supply of petrol across the country to ease movement of people before and after the New Year.
Pepple also asked petrol marketers in the country to avoid hoarding and diversion of petroleum products to black market operators.
