By Austin Ogwuda
A pressure group known as National Awareness Forum has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to terminate the oil pipelines surveillance contracts awarded to the Pipelines Infrastructures Nigeria Limited (PINL) owned by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 111.
The group in a statement released in Abuja, Nigeria, Monday, categorically stated that the call for the termination followed the alarm raised by the management of NNPCL that 112 cases of crude oil theft were recorded between December 23rd and 29th, 2023.
The group accused the management and officials of PINL of allegedly conniving with unscrupulous oil barons to sabotage the nation’s economy in the process.
A statement signed by its President, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Abdullahi and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ikechukwu Ngozi, lamented that the scenes of the 112 illicit oil deals were regrettably under the surveillance of PINL.
Arguing that PINL has failed woefully to deliver in view of the latest development, the body requested the Presidency to prevail on the board and management of NNPCL to revoke the the contract for breach of agreement.
According to the statement, “There is no wisdom in NNPCL retaining the Pipelines Infrastructures Nigeria Limited for surveillance contracts again because the private security provider has failed the country. The large chunk of the recent 112 cases of oil theft reported by NNPCL in the Niger Delta and South-East took place in the areas under the surveillance of PINL.
“That was how the Trans-Forcados pipelines in Delta state was being constantly and regularly vandalised with crude oil being steadily stolen from it when it was under the guidance of the Pipelines Infrastructures Nigeria Limited. The Trans-Forcados has since being at peace after it was taken away from PINL and given to another private security company to manage.
“All surveillance contract be taken away from PINL for failure to deliver. The company is just pocketing huge billions of naira annually for doing nothing while the nation’s economy bleeds.
“We call on the Presidency to do the needful because those collaborating with the illicit oil barons to steal the nation’s oil wealth cannot still be patronised to watch over the same installations and facilities they are sabotaging,” the statement added.