Government of the Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, have said they have uncovered a pipeline used by illegal refiners to steal crude oil in Nonwa-Uedume community of the state. The Executive Chairman of Tai LGA of the state, Mbakpone Okpe, disclosed this while speaking to journalists. Okpe said the discovery of the illegal pipeline on a facility operated by oil and gas major, Shell Petroleum Development Company, followed a tip-off. Okpe said he mobilised security operatives and council officials to the area where they discovered, but expressed dismay that no official from Shell has visited the scene even after he contacted the company.
He said, “This discovery cost me money to get the intel (information) and this access. That does not mean that Shell does not have operators that are doing surveillance for them. “The Federal Government also has companies doing surveillance for them. I need to partner with them. I called Shell after I discovered this on their line. “I wish they would come so that we can jointly collaborate to clamp down on it. It is not only discovering it but also closing it so that it doesn’t recur. Since then, Shell has not come. It is part of the problem I have been having with them.”
