Illegal structures return on NNPC pipelines

Barely eight months after the officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), demolished all illegal structures built on its pipelines, the demolished structures have sprouted up again on the same places.

The demolition was carried out to avoid unnecessary destruction and illegal bunkering of petroleum products by pipeline vandals.

In April this year, NNPC’s Task Force descended on the residents of Animotu Estate, off Ishashi Denro Road of Akute community, Ogun State near Lagos and the Pako-Pipeline area in Ikotun, Alagbole, fagba in Iju, Agege, Iyano-Ipaja, Ejigbo and Ijadodo in Ijekun in Alimosho, Ijedodo area of Isheri-Osun. Also, the action was carried out at the popular NNPC area in Ejigbo area of Lagos State.

The residents of both communities have returned with more serious structures unaware of the officials who demolished the buildings constructed on the facilities of the corporation.

The illegal structures along Ishashi pipeline was demolished to guard against further pipeline vandalization and likely fire outbreak in the community. 

Before the demolition in April, 2013, NNPC had already given warning notices and marked the areas for demolition but the residents defied the orders and continued to do business on the facilities. There were a lot of illegal structures including shops, sheds and kiosks built on the facilities.

But it was discovered that after the demolition, five months ago, the NNPC failed to monitor the pipeline areas and this lack of monitor has led to the owners of the illegal structures to erect more illegal facilities on the pipelines across the corporation’s facility.

According to investigation by Daily Newswatch, many of those residents displaced by the demolition have returned, though with fears in their minds because according to them, NNPC might storm the pipeline areas anytime.

The activities of the pipeline vandals have been causing water pollution and likely pipeline explosion in the area.  

Speaking with one of the returnees recently, he said they returned because they don’t have place to do their business and that they were not part of those vandals.

He said they have never seen any suspected vandals who use most of the structures as cover to siphon petroleum products from the NNPC pipelines, adding that government should provide business places for people rather that chasing and demolishing their business centers.

He averred that most of the structures are money spinning machine for the local government Area officials who goes to collect tolls from them.

It was discovered that most of the structures were constructed by the communities who contravened the law by erecting structures close to the pipeline not minding warnings from government that the place is a danger zone.

NNPC has before now hinted that structures are not supposed to be erected around the facilities but despite the warnings some people still build their houses very close to the pipeline zones despite the fact that NNPC erected sign-boards a long time ago warning people of the dangers associated with erecting structures close to NNPC pipelines.

With the possible harmattan around, explosions and fire disasters usually occur as a result of the activities of the vandals, NNPC should began another round of demolition to avoid possible pipeline fire disaster.

Another illegal structure dweller said their activity at the zones doesn’t affect the pipelines. He explained that instead living along the pipeline zones drive away vandals from the areas. “We act like security on the zones. So we should be encouraged instead of sacking us away from the areas.”

One resident complained on anonymity.

He tasked the NNPC to complement them by constructing drainages on both sides of the demolished areas so as to prevent some erring residence from erecting any further structures again on the pipelines.

  

Along Obabiye in Ikotun area of Alimosho Local Government Area the demolished illegal structures constructed along its pipelines at the Pako-bus-stop which harbours building material traders has again resurfaced.

 The affected structures demolished then were shops, fences, street gates; block industries, welder workshops and shades, but all these are back

Also, some people whose properties were affected were seen trading on the zones while the former  debris have been cleared that it would be difficult to know that the area was demolished few months ago. Heavy trading was seen going on there as at the time of going to the press. It would recalled that the area a year ago suffered pipeline explosion that killed over 30 suspected petroleum pipeline vandals in Ijadodo area of Ijekun last year the area recently. It would be recall that Dr Ade Abolurin, Commandant General, NSCDC, recommended the demolition of the structures to curb incessant explosions caused by vandals.

Those whose shops were pulled down in April have even added more structures. In April, the illegal structure owners wept bitterly and complained that they were not given any notice before the sledge hammer fall on their structures.

The blamed the local government officials who collect tolls from them to erect the structures.

Last April, NNPC’s operations started at Arepo led to lots of properties worth thousands of Naira to be destroyed or pulled down. It later extended to Akute Area of Ogun State and spread towards Alagbole, fagba in Iju, Agege, Iyano-Ipaja, Ejigbo and Ijadodo in Ijekun in Alimosho.

Last year, the residents of Ijedodo area of Isheri-Osun in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State cried out to the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to come to their rescue as they express fear over the looming fire disaster in their community.
In a ‘Save Our Soul’ letter sent to the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit of the Governor’s Office, the community drew the attention of the relevant government agencies to the danger the people in the area are being exposed to by the illegal erection of houses along the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation pipeline.

The Spokesman of the community, Chief Lamidi Oseni, who then signed the letter on behalf of the community, stated that the buildings along the NNPC pipeline include churches and other illegal structures were not approved by the government.
The community therefore call on the governor to order the demolition of such houses and structures to avert disaster.
Oseni wrote in the letter:

“Some persons who claim to be land owners who now engage themselves in the sale and transfer of these parcels of land under which the NNPC pipeline is constructed are creating problems for the community as the foundations of these buildings, have damaged and exposed the pipes from which some persons now siphon petrol at odd hours of the night,” he stated.
He further warned that such houses and structures erected on pipeline without any recourse to the danger of a fire outbreak will spell doom for the community, he added.

 “The foundation of a particular Celestial Church of Christ built on a pipeline has affected one of the NNPC’s pipelines; this burst pipeline is causing anxiety in the community and if not attended to soonest may cause unimaginable damage to properties and loss of human if there is any spark.”

In recent times NNPC property have become prey to nefarious activities of vandals who sabotage the efforts of the Corporation in its bid to provide petroleum products for the entire country. Attempted to get the reactions of the NNPC’ Director of Public Affairs was not successful as the phone was not available.