The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged president Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the security of pipelines across the country to curb the menace of pipeline vandilisation.
The association also stressed that it is in support of deregulation of downstream sector of the petroleum industry by President Muhammadu Buhari but said the process must be gradual.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP in Abuja, Ukadike Chinedu, the chief of staff to the national president, chief Lawson Obasi also said with the recent recognition of chief Obasi Lawson as the president of IPMAN, the association will now focus its attention on how to make petrol available to Nigerians.
He said, “I want to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for his intention to sanitise the petroleum sector. We want him to take a look at our refineries, our pipelines and the status of IPMAN in this country.
“What we are witnessing in this country is where major marketers are still dictating the distribution of petroleum products in the country, thereby defeating the essence of creating IPMAN which is the indigenisation policy of allowing Nigerians participate in distribution of petroleum products. And if you look at it, there is nowhere you go to in this country that you don’t find a fuel station owned by an independent marketer. So the best channel of having adequate distribution is through these independent marketers.
“On issue of deregulation we strongly believe in deregulation but it must be done gradually so that masses will not feel the impact. It will definitely enhance the sector and make meaning of our multi-million dollars projects scattered all over the country.
The president has what it takes to curb the issue of pipeline vandalization which is one of problems of product distribution in the country. Arresting the issue of vandalism will reduce truck accident n effective distribution
Meanwhile, the Producers Forum of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on the government to equip the security forces to fight the crime.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, the Chairman of the Forum, Comrade Emmanuel Onuorah, stated that the nation is losing about 250kbpd and 400kbpd of crude oil to theft and pipeline vandalisation, which is the combined production of Ghana, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
He explained, “If the crude oil price is put at an average of $60/barrel, this translates to between US$15million and US$25million lost in revenue. As a major stakeholder in the industry, we lament the huge loss, which could have been deployed into critical areas of national development.
“Huge unbudgeted costs are being incurred to repair or replace pipelines at damaged/theft points. Government needs to develop the political will to stop pipeline vandalism and oil theft including sanctioning collaborators in the military and security services.”
“The security forces should be empowered by Government to secure our national assets instead of the use of unconventional methods through award of contract to those without security and intelligence know-how to protect these critical national assets.”
IPMAN, PENGASSAN Task Buhari On Pipeline Security
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