Ogun - Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has identified the inaction of the officials of NNPC as the reason for incessant vandalism of the Corporation’s pipeline at Arepo village in Ogun.
Gov. Amosun, who went for on-the spot-assessment of the incidence on Sunday, spoke at the scene of the inferno in Arepo.
``I have to say it here, and I am saying it with all sense of responsibility that NNPC by its inaction is aiding and abetting the vandals.
“Indeed, I want to believe that the personnel are part of this pipeline vandalism with their inaction.
’’ This is because you can't have somebody there as GMD of NNPC or what have you and they will allow this to be happening.
``This is a multi billion naira investment, how can we not spend money to maintain it?
"That is why I said that NNPC with its inaction are part of this problem, I want to believe that they are the people aiding and abetting these vandals.
`` How can some vandals put everybody in this nation into problem? Just look at dead bodies littering the place.
"There is no other access to the pipeline location except this water way and these vandals were armed with sophisticated weapons.
``What can the police and other security agencies do? This is not to say that am in anyway supporting the activities of the vandals.
``But I am saying that we must protect our lives and property that is the purpose of government.
"I will be responsible, if they are ready to partner with us. We'll clear this place, by end of March; you will not see anything here again, I promise on my honour.
" I don't know of any other state. They should come and we will rob minds because I don't want Ogun State to be on the front pages of newspapers for wrong reasons.''
Amosun stressed the need for the NNPC to buy a solar power canoe for its monitoring team to checkmate the activities of the vandals.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that NNPC pipeline, located at Arepo Village in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun, went up in flames on Saturday due to activities of suspected vandals.
A similar incident that occurred in the area on Aug. 30, 2012 forced NNPC to shut down supply of petroleum products through the routes.
NAN