At least, 77 Percent cases of pipeline vandalism have been recorded in Nigeria in June 2019. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disclosed.
The records of the upsurge were contained in its Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR) for the month of June.
According to NNPC, the number of points breached on its pipeline in June was 106, representing an increase from the 60 points vandalised in May 2019.
NNPC further explained that the Aba-Enugu axis in the system 2E pipeline corridor accounted for 25 percent of the total pulverised points, while the Lagos Atlas Cove-Mosimi axis of the system 2B had 23 percent of the compromised pipeline points.
It added that the Ibadan-Ilorin leg of the System 2B pipeline accounted for 18 per cent of affected lines, followed by the Port Harcourt-Aba section of the system 2E which was responsible for 13 per cent of the affected pipeline.
The NNPC stated that other areas accounted for the remaining 21 per cent of the cumulative pipeline breaks.
The corporation noted that the monthly report was part of its strategies to open its operations, activities and finances to the public, stating that in spite of the breaches of its critical pipeline network during the period, it ensured continuous fuel supply and effective distribution across the country.
“During the month under review, 1.76 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), translating to 58.65 million litres/day were supplied and effectively distributed,” said the corporation in the statement.
It noted that to sustain the adequate products supply and distribution in the downstream sector, it had continued to monitor the daily stock of petrol across Nigeria.
Energy experts have alluded the effects of pipeline vandalism to include huge economic losses from pipeline & plant shutdown, environmental pollution, fire outbreaks usually resulting in loss of lives. Scarcity & shortage of petroleum products as well as decrease in electricity supply with the attendant socio-economic problems can also be attributed to pipeline vandalism.