Some oil companies, on Wednesday, called for legislative intervention to curb pipeline vandalism, saying it is inimical to the country’s economic well-being and ecosystem.
The companies made the call at a public hearing on oil theft, pipeline vandalism and their effects on oil-producing states, organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja.
They blamed the environmental pollution in the South-south region on the activities of pipeline vandals, particularly in the host communities.
Philip Akuduro, the team lead for Oando PLC, attributed the high percentage of oil spillage to activities of vandals.
According to Mr Akuduro, most of the vandals, with increasing appetite for pilfering crude from the pipelines through illegal connections and damage to oil installations, reside in host communities.
“Data by Oando on Burutu in Southern Ijaw revealed that over 90 per cent of oil theft and pipeline vandalism were perpetrated by members of the host communities.
“These…