The Federal Government has warned that it will deal ruthlessly with those engaged in pipeline vandalism and the sabotage of power infrastructure that have combined to drastically reduce power generation/transmission as well as fuel supplies in recent times, thus inflicting untold hardship on Nigerians.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the repeated attacks on oil and gas pipelines and the wilful shutdown of power facilities by protesters amount to economic sabotage which no government will tolerate.
“Vandals, whatever their motives are, cannot and will not be treated with kid gloves because their actions constitute a clear and present danger to the nation’s economic, social and political well being. The attack on the Forcados Export Terminal that has affected gas production by oil firms and reduced gas supply to power generating plants and the shutdown of the Utorogu gas plant are totally condemnable and cannot be allowed to continue.
“Also, while this administration will not do anything to abridge the constitutional rights of any individual or group to carry out protests, it will also not tolerate a situation in which anyone will hide under the guise óf legitimate protests to sabotage power infrastructure. The shutdown of the national transmission facility in Osogbo and the Ikeja Disco by some unionists amount to economic sabotage,” he said.
Mohammed said the government is not unaware that as it steps up the fight against corruption, corruption will vigorously fight back in many forms, including the destruction/sabotage of key national infrastructure to make the government look bad.
“However, nothing will make this government to slow down in its anti-corruption fight and no one who is corrupt will be spared,” he assured.
The minister appealed to Nigerians to join hands with the government to check the activities of the unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements who have taken it upon themselves to continuously work against the interest of the people.
“When oil and gas facilities are vandalized, the impact is felt directly by Nigerians. When power infrastructure is sabotaged forwhatever reasons, Nigerians bear the brunt. While those actions may be aimed at discrediting the government, those who pay the price are the vast majority of innocent, law-abiding and well-meaning Nigerians, not just the vandals or the saboteurs. This is why Nigerians must not allow the few recreants behind these attacks to hold sway,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said the power situation is gradually improving as generation has now increased to around 4,000MW while the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, has assured that the prevailing fuel queues will gradually ease in the next few days. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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We will deal ruthlessly with pipeline vandals, power saboteurs — FG
ReplyDeleteWhat an irony, you can not come out to make statement about Fulani Killing in Agatu but can open you mouth to talk about vandalism. Federal government should deal with fulanis like pipeline vandals. God bless Nigeria
I feel pained because I supported this government on their way to power and now they repay us with lies. There are no pipeline vandals.
ReplyDeleteThese pipes are so old that even water cannot pass through them without leaking out. When the pipes burst due to old age, the local people rush and fetch the product so it doesn't just waste away. Government then arrives at the scene, spots the locals and says they vandalized the pipes. Meanwhile, everyone in the oil and gas sector knows that the pipes burst due to old age.
I think it's time Nigerians knew the truth. IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, THE ACTIVITY OF PIPELINE VANDALS HAS BEEN MASSIVELY REDUCED. OLD AGE IS THE PROBLEM OF THE PIPES, SIMPLE.
LAI LAI MOHAMMED, STOP LYING.
If the pipelines are old, what about the power system that was deliberately shut down by the protesting unionists? At least this was in the news all through the week. I think we all should act responsibly, knowing fully well that we will be worst for it should the system not work. The guys at the National Control Center (NCC) Oshogbo willfully shut down the center, which controls power supply to the ENTIRE country, on the pretext that they were in solidarity with their protesting "colleagues" at the Ikeja Distribution Company. The earlier they realize that the days of NEPA/PHCN was gone for good, the better for them. The resultant companies are private, profit-oriented companies whose capacity to generate profit for its owners is measured mainly by the continuity of power supply to is (its customers).
DeleteLet us realize that we all have just this country- Nigeria, the way we lay its bed is the way we will lie on it!
Does Federal Government need to warn anybody inflicting pain on innocent Nigerians before taking necessary actions?
ReplyDeleteAll these problems were there before we supported APC into power. Please, send Police, Army and other Security Agencies to save the country from collapse.
The policeDss and civil defence with efcc are all occupied pursing Ekiti law makers and running after anybody associated with the past government.
DeleteWhy the government shouting, ranting and spouting fire? Have you forgotten easily that the people's land on which the so called pipeline are have perpetually and persistently remained in utter darkness without consideration? Or don't those people deserve a good share of power in their villages? If you like deal ruthlessly or devilishly with them.
ReplyDeleteHas it been to the knowledge of President Buhari that his fellow Fulanis are carnage in Nigeria? So lives are worthless to this goverrnment.
So if the government vouched to deal ruthlessly with pipeline vandals, then what will be recompense of the Fulani herdsmen who re committing carnage in the land?