Samuel OYADONGHA

Bayelsa State Government has called for the co-operation of major stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to check the problems of pipeline vandalism, oil theft and the rising incidence of illegal refineries.

Governor Seriake Dickson made the call while speaking in a meeting he had with representatives of Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Conoil Ltd, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and top security operatives in Government House, Yenagoa.

The Governor, who noted that the call had become imperative because of the wanton destruction of the environment, said there was every need to fashion out strategy on how to tackle the problem and also remediate the damage already done to the environment.

Hon. Dickson said quashing the illegal bunkering syndicate will be mutually beneficial to both government and the oil companies, adding that while the oil companies will have a safe and secure operating environment, the state government’s revenue accruing from oil will increase just as it will reduce the pollution and destruction of the ecology.

Governor Dickson, who commended the Joint Task Force (JTF) and other security outfits for their untiring efforts at protecting lives and property, said his administration has zero tolerance for crime, which was what informed the call for co-operation with critical stakeholders to stamp the problem out once and for all.

He used the opportunity to inform the stakeholders that government plans to put in place a policy that will co-ordinate the development efforts of donor agencies and multi-national oil companies with a view to checking project duplication and maximising resource utilisation.

Responding on behalf of the stakeholders present at the meeting, the General Manager in charge of Group Security Department of the NNPC, Mr. Fred Owotorufa commended the Governor for the bold initiative to tackle the problem of pipeline vandalism, oil theft and illegal refineries, pointing out that these are issues of grave concern to the oil industry operators.

Mr. Owotorufa said the oil and gas industry looks forward to such things that can provide “comfort” for its operations, adding that the oil companies are very ready to collaborate with the state government to address the oil-related problems.