Shell raises alarm over spate of pipelines vandalism

Vanguard

8 March 2011

Shell raises alarm over spate of pipelines vandalism

Port Harcourt – Shell Petroleum Development Company has raised alarm over the spate of vandalization of its pipelines in the Niger Delta region, to the effect that 22 spills of pipeline vandalism has been recorded between January and February this year.

SPDC said it has over 6,000 kilometers of pipelines across the country and does not possess the capability to protect the pipes, calling on the country’s security agencies to intensify efforts in halting the destruction.

Representative of Encroachment Operations Afahron Sekobi told the press in Port Harcourt, that there was “great danger to the lives and property of the people in tampering with the pipelines”.

But the company acknowledged that the socio-political situation such as volatile political environment, unconscionable poverty and low quality of life as well as petty and organized criminality, were responsible for the problems.