*Re-commissioned Ibadan Depot to ease products supply, distribution in South West
Oscarline Onwuemenyi
07 October 2017, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has urged Oyo and Osun State Governments to assist the corporation in curbing activities of pipeline vandals.
Baru who made the appeal on Wednesday during the re-inauguration of the loading operations in NNPC, Ibadan depot, noted that vandalism of pipelines was affecting the operations of the corporation. He warned the vandals to desist from their nefarious act, that their illegal activity was detrimental to the national economic growth.
Ibadan Depot of the NNPC suspended loading operations in 2015 due to incessant pipeline vandalism but Baru on assumption of duty in the Corporation promised to resuscitate the depot.
Baru, who flagged off the resumption of loading operations at the Depot, said the re-commissioning was in fulfilment of the Presidential mandate of revamping the nation’s critical oil and gas infrastructure for the benefit of the citizenry.
“It is one of the key mandates of the present administration to revamp these abandoned assets and put them back to work for the overall security and improvement of petroleum products supply and distribution for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Baru stated.
The GMD noted that Nigeria’s energy supply security is underpinned by a robust pipeline network of over 8000km used for the transportation of crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas, of which NNPC has the largest downstream footprint with over 5,120km of pipeline network and 21 depots spread around the country.
He, however, expressed dismay that over the years, these critical national assets had become the subject of incessant vandalism, theft and sabotage which result in huge loss of revenue, lives and property as well as serious damage to the environment.
“It is rather unfortunate that any time oil pipelines and associated facilities are vandalized, our ability to supply petroleum products to the nation is hampered, and the livelihood of many law abiding people negatively impacted,” he said.
He informed that since coming on board, the NNPC has re-streamed a number of its pipelines, leading to a massive resumption of loading operations in Depots within those areas.
Dr. Baru said NNPC had rehabilitated its System 2E (Port Harcourt to Aba), System 2D (Kaduna to Kano) and the Atlas Cove to Mosimi segment of the System 2B pipeline, which has led to the commissioning of Aba, Kano and Mosimi depots.
While noting that efforts were also underway to re-commission the remaining parts of the System 2B pipeline (Mosimi to Ore depot and from Ibadan to Ilorin depot), the GMD also announced the conclusion of rehabilitation work on the System 2E (Aba – Enugu) pipeline segment.
“Very soon, these depots will experience the impact of our collective resolve to get the critical infrastructure back on stream,” he added.
He commended the Oyo State Government for its consistent support over the years, which has immensely contributed to safeguarding NNPC’s Pipeline Right of Way (PROW) that feeds the Ibadan Depot.
Baru expressed optimism that the reactivation of the depot and effective distribution of petroleum products would boost the economy of Ibadan and its environs. He assured members of staff of NNPC and other stakeholders that the corporation would continue to function to resolve various challenges facing the corporation.
The Chairman, Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD), Chief Suleiman Oladiti, said Baru had lived up to his promise of not leaving any stone unturned at ensuring re-activation of the various depots across the country.
He said members of PTD had been cooperating with the NNPC for the smooth distribution of petroleum products from Mosimi depot to various destinations throughout the time of loading suspension at Ibadan depot.
He called on the NNPC management to join PTD in ensuring the reduction of road crashes involving fuel tankers to zero level by enhancing effort on safety standard. “In as much as the association appreciates the revamping and re-commissioning of the deposit in Ibadan, it becomes imperative for the management of NNPC not to compromise on safety standard.This will go a long way in achieving the desired objectives,’’ he said.
Also, the Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Raheem Tayo, called for effective maintenance of the pipelines to ensure a constant supply of all petroleum products.
The Governor of Oyo state, Mr. Abiola Ajimobi, commended NNPC for resuscitating Ibadan depot, saying that the move would boost the economy of Ibadan, the state capital and the state in general. He promised to assist the corporation in the area of security in curbing activities of vandals.
The governor, however, advised the corporation to form security committee that would from time to time monitor activities of its various unions.
