FG warns pipeline vandals, oil thieves, says their days are numbered

The Federal Government has warned oil thieves and pipeline vandals in the country that their crimes would no longer be tolerated.

Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, stated this on Wednesday during an on-the-spot evaluation of certain pipelines badly damaged by criminal activity in Ibaa Community of Emeoha Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Minister was accompanied by General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Mallam Mele Kyari, GMD/CEO of NNPC; Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and members of Operation Delta Safe.

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The days of crude oil thieves, pipeline vandals, and illicit bunkers, according to Sylva, were numbered.

He said that the administration would no longer condone any affront on the nation’s oil/gas installations.

He stated that any insult to the nation’s oil/gas facilities will no longer be tolerated by the government.

As he puts it: “The single biggest problem in our industry today is the issue of insecurity, this has come to the attention of everyone, including Mr President.

“The president has directed myself and the CDS and the GMD of NNPC to ensure that the problem is handled once and for all.

“There are three elements to solving this problem-the community must be involved, these people who are engaged in these illegal activities are not ghosts, they are from the community, so the community has to be involved.

“You, as the security arm must be involved, because you are the security arm of the government and also as part of the government, must be involved.

“The third arm is the operating publics. I believe that finally, this problem will be resolved. We are determined to stop it. I want to let everybody know that these criminals have their days numbered. This country has lost so much from the activities of these criminals.”