The Special Adviser to the Delta State Government on Niger Delta Affairs, Griftson Omatsuli, has called for the Federal Government to withdraw pipeline surveillance companies’ services in the Niger Delta “dangerous.”
According to The Punch, he made this comment recently while giving a tour of the 87-kilometer Trans Forcados Pipeline, which was contracted to a local company called Ocean Marine Solutions.
He claimed that pipeline vandalism has a severe impact on the economy, ecology, health, infrastructure, and aquatic life of the towns. As a result, he said that ceasing the services of monitoring companies will worsen vandalism and lower the government’s income from oil sales.
He said, “Whoever is fostering that scheme has bad intentions for the government infrastructure and the Nigerian oil firms operating in the Niger Delta. The Federal Government’s earnings from oil sales would be reduced if they removed the contract, opening the door for pipeline damage.
“Since OMS’s operations began more than six years ago, there has been a gradual decline in crime because, in our opinion, OMS had hired and given authority to those responsible for the crimes to protect the pipes. This is the reason the Federal Government has been meeting the OPEC quota, according to Omatsuli.”
The surveillance contract reportedly started in November 2018, according to the Supervisor Oil Mining License 40, Benin River Houses, Smart Amula.
“In addition, we are collaborating with NPDC and the pipeline infrastructure is operating without issues so far. Since we started running, the crude oil has been flowing extremely smoothly, and everyone is doing good.”
He said that with the assistance of the locals, the Nigerian Navy, and other regulatory bodies, the pipes had so far been kept secure.
“We thank President Bola Tinubu, Delta State’s governor, and all those parties that are supporting us in this effort. At least 95% of crude oil theft has been reduced as a result of our efforts. So far, so good; there are no obstacles because the oil has been flowing very well.”
His Majesty Ajuwe Wilson Ojakovo, Oharisi 111, the Ovie of the Ughelli Kingdom, also praised the continuous surveillance by the NNPCL/OMS cooperation and fervently pleaded with the Federal Government to maintain the effort and protect the neighborhood from vandalism.
Nigeria presently loses $4 million per day to petroleum theft, asset vandalism, and other crimes, according to a presidential team that recently examined important oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.
