The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) ensure the end of leakage of petroleum products from its pipelines, particularly, in the Niger Delta.
The call follows the unanimous adoption of a motion at the plenary on Thursday titled ‘Urgent need to curb the oil and gas pipeline leakages in the Niger Delta region’.
In his remarks, the sponsor of the motion, Hon. Lucky Nnam-Obi, explained that the oil and gas industry fosters a hub of economic activities in the country, which since independence, accounts for a substansive percentage of the country’s exports.
He added that oil pipelines were important to oil production, as they aid the transportation of crude oil within the country.
However, the lawmaker noted that the pipelines, owned by NAOC, which passes through the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku in Rivers state pose an imminent threat to the institution as a result of leakages, which he said, were a combination of failure of equipment and an act of vandals.
According to him, “The Nigerian Agip oil Company owns pipelines passing through the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Rivers State.
“The institution has been facing severe environmental pollution rising from leakages of the oil pipeline and gas as well in the school premises causing tension and danger to students and citizens alike.”
Based on this, the House urged the NAOC to ensure an immediate end to the hazardous discharge to the enviroment, which is injurious to the lives of students as well as academic activities of the institution.
They further called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to visit the affected area in collaboration with the company to investigate causes of the leakage, ensuring an end to the pollution of the environment as well as avert future occurences.
