12 November 2013, Lagos – The Senior Staff Association of Communication, Transport and Corporation (SSACTAC) in the maritime sector has called on the Federal Government to stop the management of Nigeria Independent Company (NIPCO) Plc from its planned construction of a tank farm and the laying of pipeline across the Lagos water front because of the danger such project could have on the area.
Making the call in Lagos , the association’s President, Omeizah Jimoh Umar, said that project which is expected to stretch from the Lagos water front through the joint venture company between NPA and several outfits will constitute great danger and greatly affect revenue accrued to government.
Umar explained that it will affect the function of the pilotage of ships calling at the ports in Lagos, since the Joint Venture Company (JVC) handling the pilotage of Lagos district is located at the Dockyard through which the pipeline is proposed to be constructed.
He disclosed that tug boats and dredgers berthed alongside the dockyard and should the project proceed as planned, the under water pipes may be ruptured.
“There is another JVC known as the Continental Shipyard Ltd (CSL) that repairs ships and vessels NPA and other third party jobs. This company repairs the Tug boats, dredgers and pilots cutters of NPA with priority preference and half cost as compared with charges of others like Niger Dock”, he said.
He said if NIPCO Plc is allowed to go ahead with her obnoxious intention, the navigational channel of about 1.5km will be blocked and any attempt to check vessels and NPA Tug boats shall lead to collision with the pipe and of course there will be explosion, fire and spillage of the products.
On environmental impact, he said there will be serious ecological side effect in terms of pollution that will definitely arise from NIPCO Plc activities. “Who bears the brunt, who pays for the destruction and who cleans the waterways? What about the impact of pollution on fishes and other aquatic lives and human side effect?, he quarried
– Vanguard