Ore depot: marketers urge NNPC to fix depot after 8yrs neglect

MARKETERS under the aegis of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to fix Ore depot after eight years of neglect.

Ore depot, which is strategically located in Ore, Ondo State, is very strategic in distributing petroleum products within South-West-South-South zones and reduces the concentration of trucks in Lagos, thereby decongesting Apapa traffic. But lack of adequate maintenance, which has characterised most NNPC assets in the downstream sector may be largely responsible for the neglect of Ore depot.

Besides, investigations by Saturday Tribune revealed that activities of pipeline vandals also contributed to the neglect of the depot because the pipelines that transport products to the depot have been ruptured. Although, there was a pledge by the NNPC to repair the ruptured pipeline over eight years ago, but nothing has been done.

Speaking with Saturday Tribune on Friday, the Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ore depot, Engr. Shina Amoo emphatically stated that the time to act on Ore depot in now.

According to him, ” we celebrate Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu for his one year in office. While we do that, we also called on the NNPC to help fix Ore depot. This is because since the administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu was sworn in on the 24th February 2017, he has been commended by stakeholders and citizens for his efforts at revamping the education sector and restore its lost glory. And his efforts at job creation, poverty eradication and improving the well-being of the citizens are being appreciated.”

However, he pleaded with the Governor to intervene in fixing the depot.

“However, we plead with the governor to intervene by calling on the NNPC to prioritise the revamp of Ore depot. Ore depot, when revamped, will create 10,000 direct jobs and 200,000 indirect jobs for the citizens.

“We have all the tanks in good condition, as well as the loading arms. The only problem we have is the pipeline problem. We want to be part of job creation history and take away our youth from the street and illegal activities. We are calling on Governor Akeredolu to help in fast-tracking the rehabilitation of Ore depot because of its importance to Ondo State, South West region and the country at large,” he said.