Pipeline vandalism across the country has continued to increase, despite lack of activities at the nation’s four refineries, with over 151 pipeline points in the first quarter of 2021.

This is a surge of 26.5 percent when compared to 111 pipeline points recorded in the corresponding period of 2020.

It was gathered that within the period under review, March 2021 witnessed the highest report of vandalism with 70 pipeline points as against the least, recorded in March 2020 with 19 pipeline points.

Breakdown Analysis

A breakdown of the incidents shows that in the first quarter of 2020, only Mosimi recorded about 73 per cent of vandal points.

This was followed by Kaduna at 16.3 percent and Port Harcourt, 10.6 per cent.

Mosimi also tops the list of areas most affected by pipeline vandals in the first quarter of 2021, with 45 per cent, although this was a reduction when compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.

Port Harcourt and Kaduna followed with 40.3 per cent, and 15 per cent respectively.

In its Monthly Financial and Operation Report for May 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, stated that “Products theft and vandalism have continued to destroy value and put NNPC at a disadvantaged competitive position.

“A total of 545 vandalised points have been recorded between May 2020 and May 2021. The NNPC, in collaboration with the local communities and other stakeholders, continuously strove to reduce and eventually eliminate this menace.”

The corporation in its full-year report for 2020 showed that the country lost N33.5 billion in pipeline repairs and management costs for pipe breaks.

The report also revealed that in the same period under review, Nigeria recorded 441 pipeline vandalism across NNPC’s pipeline network.