By Bashir Mohammed
Kano
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said it had spent over N1.6 billion on the repairs of the vandalised pipelines between Kaduna and Kano last year.
The NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr. Maikanti Baru, disclosed this yesterday, when he paid a courtesy visit to Kano state Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
The NNPC boss was in Kano to flag-off loading operations at the NNPC depot Kano following the repairs of the vandalised pipeline.
He said the company had also expended about N2 billion to provide security for the pipelines within the last one year.
He said it was unfortunate that the company had to spend the money in order to rectify the vandalised pipeline following the illegal activities of vandals.
“These are funds that would have been invested for providing other essential services.
“With the repairs of the vandalised pipeline, I am happy to tell the governor that the line is now 100 operational, “he said.
He disclosed that following the repairs of the pipeline, the company had been able to transfer over 20 million litres of AGO into tanks of Kano and Kaduna refinery in addition to 40 million liters of diesel to Kano depot.
“All these would not have been possible without the President Muhammadu Buhari’s support to the NNPC.
He urged the state government to support the company by ensuring that arrested vandals were appropriately prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We should ensure that apprehended vandals are appropriately prosecuted and kept away from larger community for good.
In his remarks, the governor represented his deputy, Prof Hafiz Abubakar, commended NNPC for repairing the facility and relaunching loading operations at the depot.
“This is an important economic milestone and dividend of the change mantra because it is coming at the heels of our celebration of 50th anniversary as a state created on May 27, 1967,” he said.
He assured that the state government would give NNPC the necessary support to ensure provision of adequate security to the pipeline.
