BY ANAYO OKOLI

Umuahia – THERE are strong indications that Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ,NNPC, Depot in Osisioma, Aba, Abia State, closed over four years ago may soon reopen and resume loading of petroleum products.

This followed an agreement by NNPC and Abia State Government from the host communities to protect pipelines that pass through their areas.

NNPC had given that as a condition for reopening the depot following consistent pressure from Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria,IPMAN, in the South-East, particularly Aba branch and the state government.

The corporation had closed the depot in 2008 because of vandalisation of its oil pipes allegedly by youths in the communities where the pipes pass through.

The vandalisation had resulted to several leakages of petroleum products when pumped, which made the corporation to incur huge losses.

Consequent upon the pressure by the government and other stakeholders, including IPMAN, and even the youths on whose land the pipeline passed, as many of their people lost jobs following the closure, the government hosted a stakeholders’ meeting at Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, where security for the pipelines was discussed.

The meeting which was attended by Abia State Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Akujobi Nkoro, NNPC officials, IPMAN leadership in Aba led by the chairman, Chief Gilbert Nwoke, chairmen of host council areas, traditional rulers and leaders of youth organisations, agreed  to cooperate with NNPC to ensure that the oil pipes are secured.

Vanguard learnt that there are ready petroleum products to pump into the depot but the management was waiting to extract this assurance from the people before it commences full operation.