The Senate, on Tuesday, asked the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to refund the sum of eighty-two million two hundred and three thousand fifty-five naira seventy-four kobo (N382,203,055.74) to the national treasury.
The Senate passed the resolution while considering the report of its ad-hoc committee on the investigation of the cause(s) of the pipeline explosions in Komkom, Rivers state and Ijegun, Lagos state.
Chairman of the Committee and senator representing Sokoto East, Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir presented the report.
The Senate resolution was sequel to the observation of the Committee that “the claim by NPSC of spending three hundred and eighty-two million two hundred and three thousand fifty-five naira seventy-four kobo (N382,203,055.74) only on firefighting operation in Komkom is very outrageous and unfounded.”
While it decried the activities of the vandals, the Senator Gobir Committee observed that most of the pipelines were aged and needed replacement and further noted that the incidences in Rivers and Lagos States were avoidable if the NNPC/NPSC and the Contractors maintaining and monitoring the pipelines, Oilserve were duty proactive: “That both NNPC/NPSC and the UTM contractor were aware of the Komkom pipeline leakage 2 days before the explosion but delayed in taking necessary action:that both the NNPC/NPSC and the Oilserv contractor were aware of the intended activity of the vandals and the leakage a week and a day respectively before the Ijegun explosion but delayed in taking necessary actions.”
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It further noted with concern that the security personnel in connivance with NPSC staff collaborated with the vandals to siphon petroleum products from the pipelines.
The Senate further resolved that the NNPC (NPSC) should carry out a proper check on all the petroleum product pipelines across the country to ascertain their status for either repairs or total replacement.
“That the Governments of Rivers and Logos States as well as all pipeline host community leaders should sensitize all occupants of Pipeline Right of Ways to vacate the Right of Ways; that pipeline owners (NNPC) should liaise with the State Governments to vacate all occupants of the Pipeline Right of Ways.”
It equally mandated the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company Limited (NPSC), subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the contractors involved to carry out proper survey of the impact of the fire incidences on the communities, determine the actual number of recorded deaths and pay adequate compensation to all victims and the affected communities.
The Senate also resolved that NNPC (NPSC) should involve members of host communities in pipeline surveillance within their various areas as an interim preventive measure.
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