The Pipeline Products and Marketing Company (PPMC) on Wednesday said that normalcy had returned to its System 2B Pipeline damaged by vandals at Akute-Itashi in Ogun.
The Manager, Media Relations and External Affairs, PPMC, Mr Nasir Imodagbe, said that suspected vandals vandalised System 2B line at Akute-Itashi village on January 19.
The System 2B line supplies fuel mainly to the Western Zone of the country.
Imodagbe said that the repair of the vandalised pipeline at Akute-Itashi village had been completed and it had commenced operations since January 21.
According to him, the damaged pipeline was repaired on Tuesday and full operations have returned to the System 2B.
“Pumping of products resumed same day and adequate supply of products along the line to Western zone has fully resumed,’’ he said.
He urged communities hosting oil and gas pipelines to protect them against theft and vandalism.
Imodagbe urged all communities concerned “to be the eyes and ears’’ of the Federal Government and report suspicious movements on the pipelines to security agents.
He said that more than 150 jerrycans and other equipment used by the vandals were recovered from the scene.
The public relations officer advised the host communities along the pipeline to assist the Federal Government in protecting the lines against incessant vandalism.
Imodagbe said that the huge amount spent on the damaged pipelines could be diverted into other better projects.
Nigeria lost about 6 billion dollars (N930 billion) yearly from crude oil theft, and lost N165 billion to refined products theft in three years- from 2009 to 2012.
