Reps reject N5.6b contract for protection of oil pipelines

[TGD]

 • IPMAN lauds NNPC, PPMC

THE House of Representatives has faulted the Federal Government's decision to embark on an annual spending of N5.6 billion on contracts for protection of oil pipelines by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Consequently, the House, which adjourned plenary session for the Easter break yesterday, mandated its committees on Interior, National Security and Intelligence, and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to investigate the Oil Pipeline Protection Contract which it described as a violation of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Act of 2007.

The panel is expected to submit its report to the parliament within four weeks.

The resolution came following the adoption of a motion titled "Violation of the provisions of the NSCDC Act, 2003 (as amended) and the non-utilisation of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for their statutory assignment," introduced by Robinson Uwak.

Specifically, Uwak had observed that despite the provisions of the NSCDC Act on the protection of pipelines, the Federal Government, through the NNPC still embarked on spending the colossal amount, which according to him, violated the NSCDC Act.

He said the Act explicitly gave the NSCDC in Section 3 (1) (e) the powers to protect pipelines all over the country; arrest, detain, investigate and prosecute any person suspected to be involved in the act of pipeline vandalism.

"This breach of the NSCDC Act by the Federal Government through the NNPC also violates the objectives of the intendment of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to minimise waste.

"The huge sums of money spent in servicing pipeline contract could be invested in funding the NSCDC to enable the Corps carry out its statutory function rather than giving it to a private firm in violation of the law and a condition that could compromise the national security," he submitted.

The lawmaker further argued that the mobilisation of the officers of the NSCDC to locations and operations not covered by the Corps' Act, 2007 and the constitution of the International Civil Defence Organisation of which Nigeria is a member, as it denigrates the Corps and officers, violates the Act and reduces the number of officers available to carry out their statutory duties.

However, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, (Western Zone) has commended the NNPC and its downstream and marketing subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) for the comprehensive rehabilitation of pipelines and depots under the System 2B Pipeline which services the Southwest geo-political zone of the country and the Ilorin axis.

The Acting Group General Manager Group Public Affairs of the Division of NNPC, Tumini Green, who disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists stated that IPMAN's appreciation was conveyed to the Corporation in a letter jointly signed by its Western Zonal Chairman, Olumide Ogunmade, Western Zonal Secretary, Dr. A. O. Idowu and the chairmen of Mosimi, Ibadan, Ore, Satellite and Ilorin Depots.

She quoted IPMAN to have stated: "We have noticed the gradual restoration and reactivation of almost all the depots under System 2B and the renewal of the facilities at Mosimi Depot which is central to the activities of depots under System 2B. We have also been informed of the extensive rehabilitation and expansion of the Atlas Cove Jetty and wish to congratulate you on all these efforts.

"We have also noticed the determination of PPMC/NNPC to tackle the ugly problem of pipeline vandalism along System 2B. The effort of the Corporation to tackle vandals at the black spots in Arepo and other areas is beginning to yield positive results."

The independent marketers also pledged their loyalty and support to the corporation in ensuring a hitch-free supply of petroleum products in the Western Zone in particular and across the country in general.



The Guardian