Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, in a group photograph with oil workers carrying out the repairs. Photo: Dennis Naku
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, on Saturday visited the Tebedaba-Brass Trunkline in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following an attack by unknown vandals.
He also vowed to bring to book the culprits responsible for the vandalism of the Tebedaba-Brass Trunkline.
The Tebedaba-Brass Trunkline, now owned by Oando (formerly O and O) after its acquisition from the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), supplies crude oil to the Brass terminal.
It is not clear if it is the same trunkline that the Bayelsa State Government said was vandalised on Friday.
The minister arrived in Brass in the company of some heads of security agencies and civilian security contractors, including David Lyon of Darlon Oil and Gas Limited, Gabriel Jonah, owner of Tenebo Security Services Ltd and State Coordinator of Tantita Security Services Limited, Joshua McIver, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
After a tour of the damaged section of the 18-inch pipeline, Lokpobiri described the attack as unfortunate, stating that no responsible government would allow such acts to go unchallenged.
He said, “This is a very important economic asset of the federation, and the government will do everything possible to ensure it is protected.
“We will go after anybody linked to this crime, wherever they are hiding. We are all Ijaw people, and we know how to find ourselves. We will find them.”
Lokpobiri stressed that security agencies, in collaboration with stakeholders and surveillance contractors, were ready to track down those responsible for the criminal act.
“This is a major trunkline and every day it remains shut results in huge revenue losses, not just to the Federal Government, but also to the company and host communities”, he added.
The minister also reminded the public that under the Petroleum Industry Act, host communities have a three per cent stake in oil operations, hence they must help to protect national assets.
“They suffer losses too when such assets are sabotaged,” but explained that the operator has already commenced repairs on the damaged section of the trunkline.
