Reps to probe ‘frequent’ oil, gas pipeline vandalism

The house of representatives has constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate the “state and causes” of pipeline vandalism in the country.

The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during the plenary on Thursday after adopting a motion co-sponsored by Muhammed Shehu from Kano and 14 other lawmakers.

Nigeria has been battling oil pipeline vandalism for some time, losing billions of naira to the menace.

In November 2023, Ogbonnaya Orji, the executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), said pipeline vandalism resulting in oil theft has become a national emergency.

Orji said Nigeria recorded 7,143 cases of pipeline vandalism in five years between 2017 and 2021.

Leading the debate on the motion, Shehu said between 2018 and 2023, Nigeria recorded over 7,000 incidents of pipeline vandalism, resulting in the loss of $12.74 million worth of crude oil.

According to Shehu, in October 2024, crude oil supply to Shell’s Forcados terminal was reduced by 50 percent due to sabotage, leading to loading delays and the risk of force majeure declarations.

The legislator told his colleagues that in January, a pipeline spill from a facility owned by a Shell subsidiary caused environmental devastation in the Niger Delta, worsening pollution and economic hardship for host communities.

Shehu said in February, Shell reported an oil spill near Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, caused by an overflow during pipeline flushing operations.

He said the incident underscored the risks in pipeline management.

The legislator said the recurrent pipeline vandalism has led to extensive environmental degradation, loss of livelihoods, and substantial national revenue losses.

“The Niger Delta region has suffered from decades of oil spills, causing severe health hazards, destruction of farmlands, and contamination of water sources, thereby exacerbating poverty among local communities,” he said.

The Kano lawmaker noted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has intensified efforts to combat crude oil theft, uncovering 19 illegal pipeline connections and 58 illegal refineries in a single week in January 2025.

He noted that incessant oil pipeline vandalism threatens Nigeria’s energy security, undermining the country’s potential sustainable economic development.

The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.