The Independent Petroleum Marketers (IPMAN) has sought a vibrant collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in order to effectively combat pipeline vandalism, smuggling and adulteration of petroleum products, and oil theft across the board.
IPMAN National President Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima spoke when he led his executives to the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja as a courtesy.
This was contained in a statement by the Corps Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, on Monday in Abuja.
Shettima commended the visionary leadership of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, whom he also lauded for the visible transformation and remarkable achievements of the Corps within three years in office.
“Your visionary leadership as the CG of the NSCDC has continued to transform the Corps into a robust, efficient and modern security institution in Nigeria.”
“This leadership instinct has been noticed both locally and in the international terrain. There are living testimonies attesting to the giant strides and remarkable achievements of the NSCDC, especially in discharging the statutory mandate”.
“The Agro Rangers Squad, Special Female Squad, CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Antivandal Squad, Mining Marshall, and other special forces are doing greatly well in safeguarding the nation’s critical infrastructure, fighting illegal dealings in petroleum products, illegal mining activities, pipeline vandalism, abduction, and kidnapping of schoolchildren, amongst others.”.
“All these and many other reasons have informed our visit to you with the delight of strengthening collaborations between IPMAN and NSCDC because our passionate goal is that Nigeria would upscale her crude oil production, most especially for local consumption’.
The NSCDC boss, in his response, expressed the readiness of the Corps to partner with reputable organisations and institutions that have a passion for the security of lives and protection of government facilities to boost the nation’s economy and enhance its security architecture.
He noted that the nation relies on the mainstay of the economy, which is oil, saying that even though the government has made remarkable efforts to diversify into other sectors, the richest part of the nation’s economy hinges on crude oil.
Abubakar Audi, however, revealed that the Corps, in the discharge of its mandate, has dismantled over 450 illegal bunkering sites and local refineries, while over 300 oil thieves and their sponsors have been arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“There is an emerging trend in the mode of conveyance called “Cotonou Boat,” which can contain about 150 drums. If you multiply that number by five to six Cotonou boats caught with stolen crude oil, you would see how much is syphoned per time”.
“Facing court judgement are suspects arrested for pipeline vandalism and illegal dealings in petroleum products, while others were caught after they already vandalised an oil well head tap into and syphoned crude loaded in tankers with the intention of transporting it to would-be buyers.
“We have also arrested a suspect who paved the way through the sea, punctured the pipeline, and connected pipes through the valve directly to his residence, where about 3 trucks are loaded daily; these are reasons we should consciously make concerted efforts to salvage the nation’s economy from ruthless saboteurs.”.
The Commandant General further appreciated the bold step taken by the IPMAN executives and assured them of stronger collaboration while seeking credible intelligence and actionable information, which he affirmed would be treated with the utmost confidentiality and secrecy.
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