FG Begins Rehabilitation Of NNPC Depot In Enugu

The Federal
Government has commenced the
rehabilitation of pipelines from the NNPC
refinery in Port Harcourt to its depot in
Enugu, an official has said.
The Special Adviser to President
Goodluck Jonathan on Pipeline Matters
(South East), Linus Mgbakogu, disclosed
this in an interview in Enugu on Friday.
Mr. Mgbakogu said that the move to
rehabilitate the depot followed
government’s avowed commitment to
make petroleum products available to
Nigerians at the official price.
He said that work was in progress at the
pipeline locations in host communities,
adding that measures were in place to
check incessant vandalism.
“That is why we have involved the state
government in the onslaught against
vandals. We have also made it clear that
traditional rulers in host communities
have a major role to play in containing
their subjects,” he said.
Mr. Mgbakogu, who was the former
chairman of the Independent Petroleum
Marketers Association of Nigeria,
IPMAN, Enugu branch, decried the
continued closure of the depot due to
pipeline vandalism.
He said that the independent marketers
bore extra cost in lifting petroleum
products to the state.
“The continued closure of the depot is
affecting our business as we go the extra
mile to bring these products, yet sell at
the official price. This has always been
at a great loss to our members as we
most often lift products at higher rates
from other depots,” he said.
The presidential aide said that the
condition of marketers in the state was
made worse as most of the products they
bought were meant for other states.
“Most of the products are meant for
other states, but diverted to Enugu State
and this comes at higher prices. The
reason we still sell at the official price is
because there are products everywhere
at the moment,” he said.
Mr. Mgbakogu commended the
commitment of NNPC/PPMC in ensuring
that the depot was reactivated to serve
residents of the state.
(NAN)