The Chairman of the Producers’ Forum of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Emmanuel Onuorah, on Monday urged the Federal Government to empower the security forces in the monitoring of oil pipelines.

Onourah made the call in an interview in Lagos. He noted that the spate of oil theft in the country had become worrisome.

Onourah said it was time modern technology was employed, instead of using unconventional methods through award of contracts. He advocated the need for sound pipeline integrity to enable safe transportation of crude and refined products in the country. “Pipeline installation can now be done using state of the art technology in a manner that will not be accessible to vandals.

“We expect that the managers of the pipelines can imbibe the culture of regular maintenance.

“The enabling legal instruments for sanctioning violators and defaulters should also be reviewed,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government to develop the political will to nip in the bud pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the country.

Credit: NAN