12 February 2014, Lagos – The Chief of the Air Staff (COAS), Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu has said the air force is capable of carrying out periodic surveillance along Shell oil company pipelines to detect causes of vandalism.
The Air Force Chief spoke when he received officials of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at the Air force headquarters in Abuja.
According to Vice Admiral Amosu, “the situation in the Niger Delta is very important to us, as a matter of fact we have dedicated platforms to give us cover, but you know we cannot come in without invitation.”
“Particularly in your own case when you have low pressure readings, please invite us because if you don’t, it will look like we are spying on you, tell us, we will be there, and we would be able to help you get recordings and I think you will be able to locate where the leakage is coming from,” he added.
Amosu also said, despite the operations in the north east, the Air Force is capable of coming into the Niger delta area, “we are doing a lot without your knowledge, and sometimes we strike on our own because we already know what to look out for if the vessel is illegal.”
Earlier, Mr. Francis Agas who represented the Chairman/ Managing Director SPDC, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, solicited the support of the air force in tackling security challenges in the Niger Delta.
He noted that, “the challenges we now have in the Niger Delta is similar to the one you are fighting up north,” he urged the air force to help provide the support as maybe needed.
Mr. Agas, recalled that the Nigerian Air Force base in Benin, use to do some over flight along SPDC pipe line right of way, saying It was useful at the time because it gave pro active information that’s assisted the SPDC.
– Daily Trust