No fewer than 5000 illegal connections were made on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) by suspected pil thieves and discovered by a private security outfit, the Niger Delta host communities have disclosed.
The Host Communities producing oil, gas and pipeline impacted states Youth Council of Nigeria stated this on Friday at a press conference in Abuja, adding that the NNPCL pipelines, in some lines, within 100 kilometers had as many as 300 insertions recorded.
Emmanuel Fiawei Pathfinder, president of the youth council (HOSTCOMYCN) addressed the pressmen in Abuja, noting that 58 illegal tapping points were used by crude oil bunkers in Delta and Bayelsa.
He also sought the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu-led government to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The Council membership included Ex-Niger Delta Agitators, environmental experts and socio-economic advocacy, Civil Society Organisations and media personnel from the Oil and Gas producing communities and pipeline impacted states.
He said, “Our goal is to engage with necessary authorities on the best way forward for the Oil and Gas Producing Communities and advocate for the proper implementation of the 3% Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, as regards to the Host Communities’ Development Trust Fund (HCDTF) for the sake of Equal Rights, Justice, Fairness, and Inclusiveness.
“We are the eyes, ears, heart, strength and foot soldiers of Oil and Gas producing Communities, and we insist that as very critical and fundamental stakeholders in the oil and gas sector we must be involved in and carried along in all PIA and HOSTCON matters.
“At this juncture the leadership of the host communities commends President Tinubu for re-awarding the Tantita Security Pipeline Surveillance Contract to secure the nation’s oil and gas assets.
“The nation’s oil production output has risen rapidly to 1.8 million barrels per day and now nearing 2 million barrels daily by the end of December 2024.
“We are very hopeful that by January and February 2025, the output of oil production will increase to over 2.5 million barrels daily for the stability of the economy of the nation.
“3,963 incidents were captured. Out of these numbers, 702 were illegal connection points, 971 were cases of theft, 1,784 were illegal refinery cases involving the destruction of 3,063 (as some of the IR were in a Cluster, having more than one Train), and 204 cases of Aversion/Deterrent.
“58 illegal tapping points were used by crude oil bunkers in Delta and Bayelsa. Uncovered underwater illegal crude oil pipelines attached to Trans Forcados Export Trunkline in Delta State including an illegal 4-kilometre pipeline connected from the Trans Escravos line into the sea.
“Over 5,000 illegal connections discovered on NNPCL pipelines, in some lines, within 100 kilometers of pipelines, as much as 300 insertions recorded.
“We applaud the administration and believe more will be achieved in 2025, as we in the Host Communities Producing Oil, Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council of Nigeria (HOSTCONYCN), will work closely with the leadership to ensure greater impact is made in the nation’s oil and gas sector.”
