The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Lagos State, Mr Tajudeen Balogun, has said the agency has proposed to use drones to enhance its operations to tackle pipeline vandalism.
The NSCDC commandant spoke just as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said it had engaged community leaders to secure the pipelines in their areas.
Balogun said this in Lagos on Saturday while speaking with SUNDAY PUNCH following the Ijegun pipeline fire which killed some, injured scores of people and destroyed many vehicles.
He said they had succeeded in reducing pipeline vandalism but was working to stop it completely.
The NSCDC chief said, “No arrest has been made yet, but an investigation into the incident is on.
“We have many things which we have proposed to use that will enhance our operations and drone is one of them. There are also other technological devices. But there are procedures to get all these things.
“We have reduced vandalism to the barest minimum, but we are working on stopping it completely and we believe it can be done with the help of everybody. We are re-strategising and refocusing on achieving results.”
Balogun warned residents against scooping petroleum products anytime pipelines were vandalised because of the danger such activities posed to their lives.
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Saturday, said the corporation had started working on the bulk of its pipelines in a bid to curb vandalism.
He said, “We are adopting and adapting modern technology in the laying of the pipes deeper. We have started work on the pipelines in line with the depots we are rehabilitating.
