Stories by Clara Nwachukwu

In a bid to combat the rising rate of pipeline vandalism in the country, the Federal Government has employed the services of about 12,000 youths from various communities in the Niger Delta that cut across the pipelines right of way.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, said the move was in line with the Federal Government’s resolve to protect the over 5,000 kilometres of vital crude and petroleum products pipelines across the country as well as other key oil facilities, to consolidate and guarantee the effective sustenance of the laudable achievements in the oil and sector within the last 12 months.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, in a statement issued on Thursday, quoted the minister as saying that the appointment of the youths would help to ensure adequate protection and security of the nation’s strategic oil and gas assets.

The minister further explained that the pipeline surveillance scheme was initiated by the Petroleum Ministry under the watch of Mrs. Alison-Madueke, is an integral part of the on-going Federal Government’s amnesty and re-habilitation programme for Niger Delta youths.

Part of the complaints with the Amnesty Programme had been the redundancy of the youths after undergoing training programmes, a development government promised to find solution to as soon as possible.

Although details of when the youths were employed were not given, but Ajuonuma said the initiative has succeeded in reducing the incessant pipeline vandalism, which in turn, has led to increase in crude oil production from meager 1million barrels per day about a year ago, to the current level of combined crude and condensate output of 2.6million barrels per day.

“Our pipelines are now becoming more secure, which means that capacity utilization of the refineries is also now on the increase as more refined products can be moved via pipelines,” he added.

In addition to the pipelines surveillance job, the minister has also approved the take-off of phase four of the ongoing Chad Basin exploration activities, which is projected to generate over 3,000 jobs for youths in the North East part of the country. “As we progress to other inland Sedimentary basins it is anticipated that our host communities will benefit both directly and indirectly from the exploration activities in their neighborhood,” Ajuonuma explained.