N4bn oil pipeline surveillance contract: Best decision to curb oil theft, says APC chieftain

Per Second NewsAugust 25, 2022536

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and activist, Dr Kailani Muhammad, has lauded the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) for signing a N4 billion oil pipeline surveillance contract with a former militant leader.

According to the APC chieftain, it is a welcome development and the best decision toward curbing oil theft across the country.

Muhammad, who made the remarks in Abuja at a press briefing on the state of the nation, noted that the N4 billion allocated for oil pipeline surveillance and monitoring is a wise decision to take, considering the trillions of Naira the country loses monthly to oil theft.

Persecondnews recalls that the Federal Government and the NNPC Ltd recently signed a N4 billion monthly pipeline surveillance and monitoring deal with former militant leader and Commander of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo, to end illegal bunkering, illegal refining, and other forms of oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

The duties of the former MEND commander will be to monitor and oversee other surveillance contracts, contractors, and their activities in the entire Niger Delta, Persecondnews gathered.

Muhammad said: “No one is in doubt as how the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, has been driving the organization with efficiency, passion and determination to turn it around. Kyari has the capacity to propel NNPC out of its current difficulties while equally addressing tough issues.

“This is why the management team is taking the bull by the horns through far reaching measures to ensure the functionality of the organization and reduction of prevalent cases of oil theft, which will soon make the energy sector very attractive, productive and rewarding to the country in terms of revenue generation.

“What is explicitly clear is that our security agencies have grossly failed to protect and provide the necessary security to the NNPC facilities, pipelines and other assets as a result of the incessant vandalism and oil theft.

“It was based on this development which causes the country to lose huge revenues, thereby crippling the economy as a result of losing over 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily that led to the award of the contract to Tompolo.

“This is a disaster and catastrophe too great to imagine, hence the decision by the NNPC is a welcome development that will address the menace.

“The organization has done the right thing and should therefore be supported by every well-meaning citizen of this country. If Tompolo can handle the situation effectively why not give out the contract to his firm.”

On the recent sponsored protest by some Northern youths against the NNPC’s decision, the political activist added: “All the dark forces working behind the scene and equally sponsoring some disgruntled youths from Northern part of the country in order to wreak havoc and destabilize the nations energy sector, must steer clear.

“Organising senseless protests, threatening to cause confusion against the backdrop of engaging Tompolo the ex-militant to survey and monitor products pipeline in the Niger Delta will never carry the evil-doers anywhere.

“It is disgusting, disheartening and unfortunate to see some unscrupulous elements working to retard the nation’s progress because of selfish interest.”

Commenting on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) monetary policies, Muhammad criticized the policies, saying they have led to the devaluation of the Naira.

He called on CBN Gov. Godwin Emefiele to rise up to the challenges and provide the needed impetus to make the nation’s economy more robust and prosperous or be booted out of office.

“Apparently, most of the CBN’s policy measures under his watch are further retarding the country’s progress rather than adressing its economic challenges.

“Regrettably, the policies focus more on import-driven economy rather than promoting industrialisation.

“For this reason, the CBN Governor must shape up by introducing measures that will revamp the economy or in the alternative the government should consider showing him the way out.

“Enough is enough for his ineptitude, inefficiency and ineffective handling of the apex bank,” he said.