Chika Amanze-Nwachuku And Fidelia Okwuonu
13 December 2007
Lagos — For the umpteenth time, another tragic fire erupted yesterday from a vandalized pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The latest incident which took place at Arepo village in Ogun State, claimed the life of a senior management staff of the corporation, Mr. Odigili M.C, while three other senior staff attached to the corporation's Mosimi Depot, Ogun, State, sustained various degrees of burns.
The injured victims simply identified as Engr. Osiyemi (Area Manager), Mr. Ante O. Ante (Auditor) and Mrs. Igbinaomhahia (Area accountant) are currently hospitalized at the corporation's Medical Centre, Mosimi, from where they will be flown abroad this week for proper medication.
Sources at the depot told THISDAY that the officials had received a tip-off that a portion of the pipeline at Arepo village had been vandalised and that people were scooping fuel from the punctured spots.
The deceased, who was the Deputy Area Manager, Maintenance, at the Mosimi depot, in company with three others had gone to inspect the extent of the damage in order to effect an immediate repair of the vandalised portion when the fire started.
The sources who stated that the fire started soon after the victims arrived the scene, could not however explain the cause.
THISDAY learnt that Odigili gave up the ghost before the arrival of the rescue team, while the three others with very severe burns were rescued and taken to the hospital. Although, the degree of the injury could not be ascertained, THISDAY learnt that the Deputy General Medical, Dr. Madu, was said to have advised that they be immediately taken abroad due the degree of the burns.
Spokesman of the NNPC, Dr. Livi Ajuonuma, who confirmed the incident in a statement yesterday said between 2004 and 2006, the corporation recorded well over 5,341 cases of pipeline vandalisation. These, he said, were aside from and a substantial number recorded this year.
Ajuonuma who explained that the victim sustained severe burns while attempting to put out the fire, said notwithstanding the unfortunate incident, the corporation had detailed engineers to effect repairs on the damaged pipeline, in addition to putting up measures to ensure that products supplies and distributions were not disrupted.
He assured Nigerians that the corporation had enough stock of petroleum products for the upcoming Sallah and Christmas festivities.
The statement read: The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has recorded another pipeline vandalism in Arepo village in Ogun state last Tuesday where a senior staff of the corporation lost his life and three others sustained severe injuries while attempting to put out the fire at the scene of the incident. The injured are already being taken care of by the Corporation at the NNPC medical centre in Mosimi, Lagos in line with the corporation's policy of caring for its workforce.
"Despite the incident, the corporation has detailed engineers to effect repairs on the damaged pipeline, in addition to putting up measures that will ensure supply and distribution of petroleum products is not disrupted. The Corporation has enough stock of petroleum products that will last for over one month even in the absence of fresh supplies. The corporation has adequate supplies to cover the upcoming festive periods of Sallah, Christmas and the new year.
"Specifically the Corporation has stock of petrol that will last for 35 days and also sufficient stock of kerosene that will last for 30 days. The Corporation put a lot of efforts to build up the stock in order to sustain the tempo of distribution and supplies nationwide.
"The NNPC is committed to living up to its responsibility of touching the lives of Nigerians in many positive ways and will not be deterred by the nefarious activities of vandals. Vandalism remained the greatest threat to effective and efficient supply and distribution of petroleum products. For example, the NNPC suffered 971 cases of pipeline vandalism in 2004, 2,258 in 2005 and 2,912 cases in 2006 and a substantial number this year. The NNPC needs the support of all and sundry, especially the media to fight the menace of pipeline vandalism".
As at press time yesterday, the fire was yet to be put off, as experts were said to have depressurised the pipeline in order to allow the fire to burn out.
Some 5, 000 had lost their lives in similar incidents in the recent past.
Last December 26, hundreds of persons were killed when a vandalised pipeline in Awori area of Abule Egba, Lagos exploded.
In October 1998, when a similar tragedy occurred in Jesse town, well over 1000 persons were killed, while so many others were severely burnt.
In two separate incidents, which occurred in Warri and Ebute, precisely, on July 16, and November 30 2000 respectively, over 180 persons were reportedly killed.
A similar incident on June 19, 2003 in Umuahia claimed no fewer than 125 lives. This is aside from about 1,300 others reportedly killed between 2004 and 2005 in Lagos, which is prone to such incidences.
Pipeline vandalism has been the major reason why the nation's refineries have not been operating. On February 18, 2006, the Chanomi Creek Pipeline, which feeds the Warri and kaduna Refineries was blown up by Niger Delta militants. Since then, the country has been importing all its fuel as attempts to put the refineries back on stream has also been frustrated by the same vandals.
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