Illegal bunkering is on the increase in Delta – NPDC

Kelvin Onyekachukwu

DELTA – The Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC/ND Western OML 34 AMT (Asset Management Team) has said that activities of illegal bunkers are increasing in its area of operations in Delta State.

The Manager, Government, Community Relations and Security, Mr. Aiguedo Sheidu, disclosed this at a press conference in Warri.

Sheidu said, locals, surveillance guards and contractors in various communities are involved in vandalization of oil facilities and illegal bunkering.

He claimed that children and women are now recruited into the syndicate of illegal bunkers in communities, stressing that collusion between host communities, surveillance guards and contractors, to steal, was very high.

The manager noted that illegal bunkers were going after individuals who volunteer information to security and the company, thus discouraging people with useful information from speaking up.

“Someone’s properties were destroyed recently and was ostracised at Otor-Edo. Once they suspect you’re the one who gave the Company information, they destroy your properties.”

The manager regretted that the company has suffered tremendous loses to illegal bunkers despite spending billions of naira on pipeline security.

NPDC recently shutdown its operations due to vandalisation of its facilities and bunkering.

The company is employing technology to improve monitoring of its facilities, the manager said.

“We are employing technology to enhance our monitoring capacity and, at the same time trying to dig our feet on the ground so that when our lines are vandalized, we suspend you and cancel your contract.”

He said NPDC will continue to increase community awareness campaigns on the ills of bunkering.

Sheidu called on government to increase its presence in host communities to reduce the activities of illegal bunkers.