By Lucky Isibor
The national chairman of the Anti-Pipeline Vandalization/Petroleum Product Adulteration and Monitoring Committee of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chief Clement Mbechi has said that pipeline vandalization and petroleum products adulteration are the major cause of fuel scarcity in Nigeria.
Mbechi stated this at the National Youth Council Secretariat in Benin City, Edo state, Friday while inaugurating the Edo State chapter of IPMAN Anti-Pipeline Vandalization/Petroleum Product Adulteration and Monitoring Committee.
He emphasized that no part of the country has been spared the attendant hardship that accompany petroleum products pipeline vandalization and adulteration hence the committee has decided to take the bull by the horns by safeguarding the nation’s pipeline network.
According to Mbechi, “over the years and the recent past, no part of this country has been spared the harrowing and bitter experience arising from pipeline vandalization of petroleum products adulteration which has resulted to petroleum scarcity in this country.
“The product scarcity has been largely traced to the activities of hoodlums who sabotage the government’s efforts to make the product available.
Continuing, he said, “based on the action of this hooliganism, Anti-Pipeline Vandalization/ Petroleum Product Adulteration Monitoring Committee has decided to take the the bulls by the horns by safeguarding pipelines across the nook and cranny of this state and assured that from now on Nigeria would be getting quality and steady product with the help and cooperation of the people.”
While admonishing members of the committee to work with all security agencies like the police, DSS, Civil Defence Corps and NNPC officials to make Edo state uncomfortable for pipeline vandals and petroleum products adulterators, Mbechi appealed to host communities of the nation’s pipeline network in the state to collaborate with the Edo state IPMAN Anti-Pipeline Vandalization/Petroleum Product Adulteration Monitoring Committee
to make Edo state enjoy quality product supply.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all host communities of the nation’s pipeline to collaborate with the Anti-Pipeline Vandalization/Petroleum Product Adulteration and Monitoring Committee to arrest this ugly menace as vandalization of our pipelines are done in the communities.”
The functions of the committee according to the national chairman include pipeline surveillance to forestall vandalization, monitoring petroleum products sales outlets for adulteration and ensuring product availability for independent petrol marketers.
Responding, Edo state chairman of the committee, Hon. Eronmonsele Eronmonsele, assured that he will work with other members of the committee to ensure that vandalization of petroleum products pipelines and adulteration is eliminated in the state.
While sueing for the cooperation of other members of the committee in the task ahead, Eronmonsele promised to work round the clock proactively to end pipeline vandalization in Edo state.
Highpoint of the event was the inauguration of the Edo state chapter of the committee by the national chairman of the committee, Chief Clement Mbechi and the handing over of the instrument of office to the Edo state chairman, Hon. Eronmonsele Eronmonsele.
