By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG & MONSOOR OLOWOPEJO

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday expressed shock over alleged claim by Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State that its officials were colluding with vandals to destroy pipelines in Arepo, saying that, “engaging in a blame game, when every responsible Nigerian citizen is wondering about Arepo which is in his domain,’’ was unhelpful.

In a statement signed by the NNPC spokesperson, Ms Tunmini Green regretted the renewed attack on Arepo 2B pipelines which it said “has become such an attractive spot for oil thieves and pipeline vandals.”

According to the NNPC, the pipelines were vandalised barely a month after they were fixed following an earlier attack even as another explosion was averted in Lagos State at Ibowon community, Epe Local Government Area by men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

However, Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday condemned activities of oil vandals, which led to the recent pipeline fire in Arepo, Ogun State, that claimed several lives among other carnage.

The NNPC statement read in part, “It is sad that the Governor of Ogun State who should know the importance of national assets like pipelines and do everything in his power to protect them is engaging in a blame game when every responsible Nigerian citizen is wondering why Arepo  has become such an attractive spot for oil thieves and pipeline vandals.

Governor Amosun should emulate his Abia State counterpart who has mobilized security to protect the pipelines in his domain to sustain product supply to the state rather than engage in unnecessary rhetoric.”

Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, led a management team to inspect the vandalised pipeline yesterday, where he emphasized the need to curb the menace of pipeline vandalism and its attendant losses to the economy.

Yakubu who was at the site of the incident said the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, had repaired the vandalised pipeline to the level that it can commence operation immediately, adding that the NNPC was exploring lasting measures that would deter the vandals.

The NNPC chief also said the corporation was working on a tripartite collaboration on security with the Ogun State government and other state governments, the police and other security agents, where the NNPC had the right of way for the pipelines and other facilities.

“The collaboration with security operatives is much better now. We are having a better collaboration with the security personnel unlike before. Every challenge comes with a different solution. We have some things on ground to solve the problem in terms of security, intervention and cooperation. Most of these may call for the highest level of intervention. For instance, the Inspector General of Police is now involved in ensuring that security is guaranteed at the Arepo line to give Nigerians uninterrupted fuel supply.”