…As Gov. Ajimobi Pledges Vehicles for Pipeline Security
By Adebisi Adeyemi, Lagos
Products supply and distribution have received a huge boost in Oyo State and the South West region of the country, following the re-commissioning of the Ibadan Depot of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday.
Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, who flagged off the resumption of loading operations at the Depot, said the re-commissioning was in fulfillment of the Presidential mandate of revamping the nation’s critical oil and gas infrastructure for the benefit of the citizenry.
“It is one of the key mandates of the present administration to revamp these abandoned assets and put them back to work for the overall security and improvement of petroleum products supply and distribution for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Dr. Baru stated.
The GMD noted that Nigeria’s energy supply security is underpinned by a robust pipeline network of over 8000km used for the transportation of crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas, of which NNPC has the largest downstream footprint with over 5,120km of pipeline network and 21 depots spread around the country.
He, however, expressed dismay that over the years, these critical national assets had become subject of incessant vandalism, theft and sabotage which result in huge loss of revenue, lives and property as well as serious damage to the environment.
“It is rather unfortunate that any time oil pipelines and associated facilities are vandalized, our ability to supply petroleum products to the nation is hampered, and the livelihood of many law abiding people negatively impacted,” he said.
He informed that since coming on board, the NNPC has re-streamed a number of its pipelines, leading to massive resumption of loading operations in Depots within those areas.
Dr. Baru said NNPC had rehabilitated its System 2E (Port Harcourt to Aba), System 2D (Kaduna to Kano) and the Atlas Cove to Mosimi segment of the System 2B pipeline, which has led to the commissioning of Aba, Kano and Mosimi depots.
While noting that efforts were also underway to re-commission the remaining parts of the System 2B pipeline (Mosimi to Ore depot and from Ibadan to Ilorin depot), the GMD also announced the conclusion of rehabilitation work on the System 2E (Aba – Enugu) pipeline segment.
“Very soon, these depots will experience the impact of our collective resolve to get the critical infrastructure back on stream,” he added.
He commended the Oyo State Government for its consistent support over the years, which has immensely contributed to safeguarding NNPC’s Pipeline Right of Way (PROW) that feeds the Ibadan Depot.
Responding, the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, described the resumption of loading operations in the area as “a great development which would have a major impact on the socio-economic well-being of Oyo people and the entire South West region.
“Today, I am happy because the resuscitation of this depot has brought about a great impact on our economic value chain which will be seen in commerce, industry and employment generation for our people” the Governor stated.
Governor Ajimobi also heaped praises on the GMD, calling him “a reformer, transformer as well actualiser” who has been working tirelessly to achieve the Corporation’s objectives.
“Having worked in this place as Area Manager for National Oil back in the eighties, I can tell you that this is the first time in many years that a sitting GMD is giving these facilities the attention they so much deserved,” the Governor noted.
While assuring the GMD of his support towards securing NNPC’s Pipeline Right of Way (PROW) across the state, the Governor pledged to provide vehicles for security operatives patrolling pipelines within the state.
In their separate remarks, critical downstream stakeholders of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and National Road Transport Owners (NARTO) all commended Dr. Baru for ensuring the re-streaming of numerous depots across the country which has led to the robust product supply and distribution across the country.
It would be recalled that in May this year, the GMD was in Kano to re-commission the Kaduna-Kano pipeline.
