The Minister of State Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, on Saturday visited the gas pipeline destroyed by criminal elements in Bayelsa state, vowing that the Federal Government will go after the perpetrators.
The Lagos- Gbene 18-inch Tebidaba- Brass gas pipeline in Opuama clan, Southern Ijaw Local Government, which supplies crude to Brass Terminal, was attacked by criminals, resulting in its shut-down for repairs.
Lokpobiri, accompanied by heads of security agencies in Bayelsa State, expressed sadness over the incident, considering the economic importance of the gas pipeline.
He noted that the incident is unacceptable to the Federal Government, and it would ensure that those behind it are apprehended.
‘’ I have seen what happened here. This is very unfortunate. This cannot be allowed by this government. These are very important economic assets of the country. As a government, we would do everything humanly possible to protect these assets. And we would go after anybody that is linked to any of these crimes, where they are, where they may be hiding. We are all Ijaw people, and we know how to find ourselves. We are going to find them wherever they are. Security agencies, in collaboration with other stakeholders and the civilian security contractors, will find them. We are going to find them. We already have intelligence reports about who is responsible, and we would investigate that and go after anybody that is responsible.
‘’ This is a major trunkline, and anytime you shut it down for a day, it results in huge revenue loss not just to the government and the company but also to the community’’ he said.
Lokpobiri, while assuring that security agencies would do everything legitimate to arrest those behind the attack, called on the people to be vigilant and cooperate with the Federal Government to protect critical economic assets.
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He also commended the management of Oando for the swift response to repair the gas pipeline, stressing that the approach of the Oil company should be the template for other oil companies operating in the country.
‘’ I am happy that as we came, maintenance is already going on. I want to commend Oando for the swift response to maintenance. I want to recommend this template to other companies.
‘’ What is more important is that security agencies would do everything legitimate to bring those responsible to book. That is why you see the Brigade Commander here. That is to tell you the Federal Government’s seriousness about this matter. Nobody is bigger than government anywhere in the world.
‘’ I want to urge all our people to be vigilant and know that all of us are stakeholders. They should report any purported movement’’ he added.