Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Dipo Olowookere
Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Maikanti Kacalla Baru, has said efforts were on the way to repair Kaduna-Kano; Kaduna-Jos; Kaduna-Suleja) pipelines.
He made this disclosure over the weekend when he supervised the recommencement of loading operations activities at its Mosimi Area depot in Ogun State, which marked a major milestone in NNPC’s quest to ensure steady supply and distribution of white petroleum products across the entire nation.
“Already, plans are underway to re-commission System 2D (Kaduna-Kano; Kaduna-Jos; Kaduna-Suleja) pipeline. Very soon Kano, Jos and Suleja will experience the impact of our collective resolve to get these critical infrastructures back on stream,” he stated.
Mr Baru, who was represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Downstream, Mr Henry Ikem Obih, further said, “Today marks the beginning of a new era of hope and the return of commercial activities in this economic corridor, as products are being received in Atlas Cove and pumped to Mosimi for on-ward pumping to Satellite depot and loading from these two (2) great depots in this Area.”
He added, “This is a historic day for NNPC, the South West Region and indeed Nigeria as this great Area is once again back on stream, bringing more fortunes for all and sundry. The stress of moving our trucks to Lagos to convey petroleum product to this area is getting highly minimized.”
It would be recalled that System 2B Pipeline (Mosimi Area) has been down for almost a year now (since May, 2016) due to the activities of pipeline vandals along the Atlas Cove-Mosimi Pipeline Right of Way (PROW), a development that has led to crippling of commercial activities and loss of lives due to the nefarious activities of vandals.
“At some point, commercial activities that spun from our operations in this area had to be moved to Lagos. We can see that vandalism causes huge loss not only to NNPC, but to the host communities and the general public,” the GMD explained.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the constant support in ensuring the revamping of critical Oil and Gas infrastructures, especially Petroleum Products storage and distribution facilities that will aid effective distribution of products across the country.
The GMD also commended the Ogun State Government for its commitment towards ensuring the security of NNPC’s pipeline network, especially around Arepo area.
He further noted that the re-streaming of loading activities at the Mosimi Area was in line with NNPC’s drive to ensure development of oil and gas infrastructure as contained in the Corporation’s 12 Business Focus Areas (12 BUFA) and by extension, realizing Mr. President’s agenda of adding value across the entire oil and gas value chain.
