The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ejigbo Satellite Depot, has warned of possible scarcity of petrol except the government acts fast to address rampant third party infringement of pipelines at Idimu, Alimosho Local Council Development Area of Lagos.
The IPMAN Ejigbo Satellite Depot chairman, Mr Akin Akinrinade, disclosed that some vandals, who were found scooping petrol on System 2B pipeline in front of Good Luck Estate, Idimu, absconded when the security agents tried to apprehend them.
Akinrinade said: "IPMAN Satellite Depot are constrained with heavy heart to announce the vandalisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) pipeline at Idimu in Alimosho LCDA, of Lagos State, in front of Good Luck Estate.
"This continuous vandalism is a setback to the effort of IPMAN and NNPCL to ensure uninterrupted supply of petrol to Lagos and the entire Southwest region of Nigeria.
"It is noteworthy that a 33,000 litre truck with registration number JND 162 XA which belongs to one R. A. Oluwakemi, a marketer, loading at Ibadan depot was apprehended at the scene of petrol scooping in Idimu."
'The truck was painted in blue and white colour, with registration number JND 162 XA was apprehended at the scene of the vandalism,' he added.
According to Akinrinade, IPMAN appreciated the effort of the security agencies in apprehending the culprits.
"We underscore the immediate effort of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, the Area Commander, Area "M", Idimu. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Navy are also appreciated for their efforts," he said.
He, however, urged the security agencies involved in investigating the unpatriotic act to take the investigation to a logical conclusion and justice is served appropriately.
He called on Lagos State government, whose duty it is to protect lives and properties within its jurisdiction, to be proactive in protecting the NNPCL pipelines, within the state.
The marketers said, the residents also have the duty to protect these critical Government infrastructures and provide credible and timely intelligence to IPMAN and security agencies regarding the pipelines.
Akinrinade said, the vandals absconded, while all their scooping equipment and the trucks were abandoned.
According to him, the items abandoned have been taken to Idimu Area "M" Command by the security agents.
"We appeal to the police to do justice and bring the culprits to justice.This is not the first time vandals had been arrested and trucks recovered at the scene of this nefarious act are found back on the road within a short time," he said.
The chairman, therefore, condemned activities of pipeline vandals in the area, adding that incessant pipeline vandalism was having negative effects on the country's economic growth.
He urged security agents at the federal and state levels to live up to their duties, by ensuring that the such acts were brought to an end, advising that the culprits should be dealt with within the law.
"We at the Ejigbo Satellite Depot are ready to lend a helping hand to security agents in bringing pipeline vandalism to a halt. We have adopted a system that does not encourage vandalism. Security agents close to the pipeline network should also assist in patrolling around the axis," he said.
Akinrinade advised that security agents, saddled with the responsibility of protecting the pipelines, to have relationships with IPMAN executives and the traditional rulers in those communities.
He called on the federal government to impose tougher penalties against petroleum pipeline vandals, saying, the act affects the socio-economic growth of the nation.
He said, IPMAN also supported the government's efforts to ensure that the pipelines were continuously monitored.
According to him, anyone caught trying to sabotage oil facilities, will be handed over to the law enforcement agency to face appropriate sanctions.
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He urged communities along pipeline networks to always ensure that suspects apprehended are handed over to the security agents.
He assured that IPMAN members would always be ready to support NNPCL, by reporting any suspicious activity around pipelines and other oil and gas facilities.
He stressed that the corporation, on its own part, should do everything possible to ensure the safety of lives and property around its facilities.
Similarly the Lagos State Police Command said, its operatives have foiled an attempt by hoodlums to steal oil at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Pipeline.
The Command's spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known on his Twitter handle at the weekend.
He said that the incident happened at 2:00 a.m. in the Idimu area of the state.
Hundeyin said that the hoodlums unlawfully gained access into the site and were syphoning oil from the pipeline into their tanker.
