Youths Uncover Another Oil Theft Pipe In Rivers

Crude oil tapping point on the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited’s Trans Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP) has been discovered in Nonwa, Uedume community, Tai council, Rivers State.

This was confirmed by the Executive Director of the Youth and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Fyneface Dumnamene, who was present at the site for observation along with other relevant stakeholders.

The team was led by Hon. Mbakpone Okpe, Chairman of Tai LGA, and included members of the Nigerian Army, DSS, and the Tai local security task force.

There were also Tantita SSL pipeline surveillance contractors present, as well as Shell personnel on the TNP performing routine maintenance.

A tapping point was discovered by Youths working as pipeline surveillance contractors in the area, according to Dumnamene, an environmental rights activist.

He stated that the location where the criminals were extracting crude oil is capable of loading two 33,000-liter tankers.

He mentioned that the Shell employees were surprised to learn that a tapping point was on their pipeline and was close to where they were.

He said: “Sometime last week I was invited as an environmentalist to come and observe what was discovered. In fact, the people that discovered this point and from what they told me are the youths who are working as pipeline surveillance contractors in the area.

“They had to involve the local government Chairman who led the team to the Trans-Niger Delta pipeline in Nonwa Uedume in Tai LGA and getting there we saw that the criminals actually connected the pipe that is about 1.5 millimeters to the main pipeline (Trans Niger-Delta pipeline) and the pipe was laid out to about some kilometers away from the point where it helps them to load at least two of 33,000 liters of tanker every night. And the pipe is said to have been there for over seven years.

“And then looking at the environment as I was called to observe, I could see pollution around the area but not as much as oil extraction.”

He also revealed that Shell was on the scene for observation and is working to remove the tapping on the pipe to prevent further damage.

Dumnamene, on the other hand, condemned the act and urged the Federal Government to establish the Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative to provide alternative livelihood opportunities for artisanal crude oil refiners in the Niger Delta through modular refineries (PACORDI).