Hard times await pipeline vandals, fraudulent oil marketers in Abia
As Otti inaugurates 27-man Petroleum taskforce
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has charged the newly inaugurated Taskforce on Petroleum to be tough on pipeline vandals, as well as erring petroleum marketers in the state.
Governor Otti gave the charge on Friday, July 26, 2024, at the auditorium of the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs shortly after inaugurating the 27-member Petroleum Team of the Abia State Harmonised Taskforce (ASHTF). The team includes Mr Sam Oditah of the News of Nigeria (NAN) and about 12 military personnel, including the Navy.
The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Chairman, ASHTF, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, said the taskforce has the mandate was to check oil theft in the sector and end pipeline vandalism. He also charged the taskforce to be tough on pipeline vandals, as well as erring petroleum marketers at various outlets in the state.
While decrying the nefarious activities of oil bunkerers in the state, the Governor charged them to discharge their duties without fear or favour, by ensuring that people who engage in fraudulent dispensing of products do not have a place in the state.
“Your work is a lot more technical in nature and we believe that you have a complex work to do in the state. The work you are about to embark on is for you to continue to contribute your quota for the advancement of our state,” Dr. Otti said.
He told the team that government expected that a lot of revenues would be accrued to the state through their activities.
In his acceptance speech, the Team Leader, Air Commodore Sunday Azubuike (Retd), thanked the Governor for the opportunity given them to serve.
He said that he and his members were lucky that they were part of the team, while promising that they would discharge their duties efficiently.
Meanwhile Commodore Azubuike has vowed that the taskforce would not give in to any form of corruption in the discharge of its duties.
He said in an interview with The Oracle Today newspaper shortly after his inauguration that he has warned members against any corrupt tendencies.
“Say no temptation. I have spoken briefly to my members. You lead by example. I have told them to count me out if there is anything. Temptation will come but God will see us through,” he said, while responding to a question which suggested that members of such taskforces usually line their pockets.
Instead, he said their appointment was a call to serve the state. The Taskforce Chairman added: “My appointment is an invitation to contribute my own quota. I want to be part of history that is being written now by His Excellency. It is an enormous task.”
“We have been selected to help the government of Abia State to drastically reduce the deft, bunkering in the oil sector; to help reverse all the illegal activities happening in all areas within Abia State oil sector, check people who illegally take away the mineral endowments of this state. So, by the grace of God, we will do our best to make sure things work in Abia Sate,” he promised.
He revealed that in the past 24 years, when people talk about Abia State, he would hide his face, explaining that he now accepted to serve the state because “now, that things have changed, I want to be part of history, I want to contribute positively and that is why I am back to my home state,” he said.
