Lack of necessary facilities, including operational patrol vessels has been identified as the major challenge being faced by the federal government in the fight against pipeline vandalisation in the Niger Delta.
This was revealed by the Ad hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control of the National Economic Council (NEC) IN Abuja last week.
A top member of the Committee and the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Admiral John Jonah Atuama (rtd) told newsmen at the Presidential Villa that the Committee discovered that massive youth unemployment situation was a major factor in pipeline vandalisation and oil theft in Niger Delta.
He also added that scarcity of petroleum products in the area as among other causes of illegal bunkering.
He said that his Committee has recommended a number of measures to check oil theft, pipeline vandalisation.
According to him, his Committee recommended deployment of appropriate technology for surveillance of oil facilities.
He also added that the committee recommended patrol boats and vehicles to be acquired for the surveillance particularly in difficult terrains.
Atuama revealed that the Committee had recommended that the committee should set up special courts to try offenders of illegal oil bunkering and other suspects.
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