Prince Mike Emuh who is the National Chairman of Oil and Gas Host Communities, has openly lamented about the country’s under-performance of crude oil production of 2.3 million barrels per day which falls below the quota given by the organisation of the Oil Producing Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Emuh had also narrated that the current under production of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, which currently fluctuates between 1.3 million barrels per day, was grossly inadequate according to OPEC for a country luke Nigeria as well as it’s complete effect on the nation’s revenue generation given that Nigeria thrives on monolithic economy.
While he was speaking with journalists in Abuja on the plight of Nigeria’s oil industry, he attributed the ugly trend to pipeline vandalisation, which he claimed was being perpetrated by those he called “untouchables.”
Prince Emuh, who doubles as Chairman of Pipeline Imparted Communities of Nigeria revealed that over 200 pipelines were vandalised across the Niger Delta alone, saying that it was a serious sabotage that the Federal government must take a drastic step to end the crime.
He said, “The solution to end pipeline vandalisation was by bringing the host communities into surveillance of pipelines since they are those that understand the terrain, adding that they were ready to cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari to end vandalisation of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region.”
He insisted that powerful elements in Nigeria who own vessels and trucks were behind the bush-loading of crude oil illegally which runs into trillions of naira on a daily basis, a development he said, was denying the country of accrued revenue.
He said: “You see, we need to rub minds with Mr President to curb illegal acts of oil theft running into several trillions. Illegal acts of oil theft; illegal acts of pipeline vandalisation. Nigerians are to be held responsible.
“Those who are involved are not outsiders. Companies buying crude oil from Nigeria are to be held responsible. Who are the owners of vessels that shuttles between one nautical mile to fifty nautical miles on international water? They are these untouchable Nigerians.
“Who are the owners of trucks that are bush-loading crude oil in trillion tonnes everyday all over the Niger Delta? They are Nigeria big shots.”
According to him, the trend has attracted the attention of the European Union who have held series of meetings with the NNPC and the host communities to chart a way forward.
“The European Union said the Federal Government of Nigeria should give the protection of pipeline to the host communities.
“Allow the owners of oil communities to guard the critical equipment because if you let it loose, nobody would be held responsible. The 3% Petroleum Industry Act has come and the PIA said, communities should be held responsible when they are paid.”
