Ebun Francis
The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru, said on Wednesday that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company lost about N1.5 trillion due to attacks on its facilities by militant groups in the Niger Delta from January 2016 till date.
The NNPC boss, stated this while declaring open the 2016 NNPC Security Awareness week with the theme: “NNPC Security: A Task for All Stakeholders”. Baru decried the rising spate of criminality in the society at large and in the oil and gas industry in particular leading to loss of much needed revenue.
Mr Barus’s declaration was contained in a statement released by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu.
According to Baru, ”At industry level, we are all conversant with the seriousness and frequency with which national assets in form of pipelines, flow stations are vandalised and crude oil and white products stolen with impunity.
”In 2016, January to date for example, NPDC alone recorded 59 security incidents resulting in crude production shut down/deferment and revenue loss of over N1.5 trillion,” he said.
He therefore implored all Nigerians to do everything possible to help protect national assets while assuring staff that security was a focal point off his administration and that success could only be achieved when all stakeholders imbibed the consciousness that security was a task for everyone.
”At corporate level, you are all aware that the first item on my 12 Focus Areas is security.
”This is in recognition of the imperative that without assurances of safety, NNPC, the oil and gas industry, and indeed the country cannot achieve appreciable growth to assure citizens of decent and productive lives,” he said.
Mr. Baru also launched the Corporation’s Kidnap for Ransom Policy to raise staff awareness on the need to avoid actions that predispose them to being kidnapped.
