Fashola calls for action on pipeline explosions

30.05.2008

LAGOS State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has called for urgent action towards the rehabilitation of the nation’s oil pipelines and review of Right of Way, saying that the time had come for less talk and more action.

Fashola, who spoke while receiving the Minister of State for Energy (Petroleum), Mr. Henry Ajumogobia, in his office, said the problems about the pipelines were enormous, saying that “we will better do more and talk less.”

The governor expressed worry that the Federal Government had refused to act to address the issues raised by the state government.

”It did not start with this administration. I remember writing a series of letters to theNigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) when I was Chief of Staff concerning the state of the pipelines in the state without getting any reply.

“I provided money to go round, especially to the riverine areas where the pipelines were being vandalised,” the governor said.

Fashola said the investigations showed that some of the pipes were more than 30 years old, adding that even though they were made of steel, they were susceptible to corrosion.